‘India Will Run by Constitution Made by Ambedkar, Not by Any Sharia Law’: UP CM

New Age Islam News Bureau

23 April 2024

 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath

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·         ‘India Will Run by Constitution Made by Ambedkar, Not by Any Sharia Law’: UP CM

·         In Contrast to Rajasthan, Modi Dons Muslim-Friendly Face in Aligarh with Increased Haj Quota

·         Abuses In Manipur, Harassment of Media and Minorities Feature in US’ Rights Report on India

·         Israeli Protesters Burn Symbolic Passover Table Outside PMNetanyahu’s House

·         Encourage Children to Read Books on Racial, Religious Diversity to Promote Unity: Malay Minister

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India

·         Congress Tried to Give Reservation to Muslims by Reducing SC/ST Quota: Modi in Rajasthan

·         Kerala CM urges EC to take action against PM Modi over his remarks against Muslims

·         Shahi Idgah: Hindu Side Says Forcible Possession of Temple Land Doesn’t Make It Waqf Property

·         Muslims who can’t vote for us are helping by not voting: Keshav Prasad Maurya

·         NCBC slams blanket categorisation of Muslims as backward caste in Karnataka

·         Bombay High Court rules in favour of Dawoodi Bohra community leader Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin in succession suit

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North America

·         Pro-Palestinian Protests Gain Momentum Across US Universities

·         Hamas To Survive, Reconstitute as Israel Fails To Destroy Command Centres, Tunnels: US Media

·         UNICEF calls for protecting children by preventing use of explosive weapons in populated areas

·         US split over whether Netanyahu capable of accepting Palestinian component of Saudi deal

·         CAIR-CT Supports Yale Student Protesters, Urges University to Divest from Weapons Companies

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Mideast

·         Israel thirsty for murder, blood: Hamas on Gaza mass graves

·         Tent compound rises in Khan Younis as Israel prepares for Rafah offensive

·         Hezbollah fires 35 rockets as Passover starts in Israel, IDF strikes back

·         Iraq won’t tolerate violation of its sovereignty, PM tells Erdogan

·         Iran calls on European Union to sanction Israel

·         Israel fails to provide evidence for allegations against UNRWA staff: Report

·         Iran says its nuclear weapons ban is still in place after calls to abandon fatwa

·         RSF: More than 100 journalists killed within 6 months in Gaza

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Southeast Asia

·         Philippine Troops Kill 12 Suspected Muslim Rebels In Clash That Wounded 7 Soldiers

·         Malaysia, Indonesia should forge alliance to enhance Islamic finance, fintech growth in Asean, says Bank Negara

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South Asia

·         No Significant Changes in Human Rights Situation in Bangladesh in 2023: US Bureau

·         OIC Making Efforts to Increase Islamic Emirate's Interactions with World

·         Afghan migrants in Pakistan face multifaceted challenges amid forced deportation

·         International Journalism Festival: Online violence against Journalists on the rise

·         Deportations Straining Islamabad-Kabul Relations: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt

·         Muttaqi Meets Iran Envoy Qomi, Strengthening Ties Discussed

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Pakistan

·         Washington Warns Islamabad Against 'Potential Risk of Sanctions' Amid Iran Deals

·         13 ‘terrorists’ killed in KP, Balochistan in 48 hours

·         Why wasn’t cipher shown to trial court, IHC judge asks FIA

·         Bajwa says on oath he had no role in no-trust against Imran: Shami

·         Security issue: Iranian president’s several activities in Lahore curtailed

·         Seven-day ban imposed on drone cameras in Karachi ahead of Iranian President Raisi's visit

·         Filling of acquittal pleas: ATC directs Imran’s lawyer, other accused to fulfil legal formalities

·         Pakistan-Iran border symbolizes peace & friendship: COAS

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Africa

·         Mali: More Than 110 Civilians Kidnapped By "Suspected Jihadists"

·         Nigeria Resumes Prosecution of All Boko Haram Detainees

·         More than 50,000 displaced by clashes in northern Ethiopia: UN

·         South Africa: Activists clean up Cape Town beach in celebration of Earth Day

·         Heavy rains and floods paralyze Nairobi, death toll rises in Kenya

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Arab World

·         OIC Calls for Probe Into ‘War Crime’ Over Mass Graves in Gaza's Khan Yunis

·         Saudi foreign minister discusses Gaza with European counterparts at EU-GCC event in Luxembourg

·         Saudi, Malaysian officials discuss boosting halal industry

·         5-Year Multiple Entry Visa for Saudis and Gulf Citizens AsEU Updates Schengen Rule

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Europe

·         Macron Warns Netanyahu Against Invading Rafah

·         US facing humiliation in Ukraine akin to Vietnam and Afghanistan, says Russia

·         EU ministers agree on new Iran sanctions after attacks on Israel

·         German warship departs Red Sea as EU 'naval mission' fails to confront Yemen

·         French court gives man suspended sentence for Iran consulate intrusion

·         New footage adds context to police response to Jewish man during pro-Palestine protest in London

Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL:    https://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/india-ambedkar-shria-up-yogi/d/132188

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‘India Will Run by Constitution Made by Ambedkar, Not by Any Sharia Law’: UP CM

 

UP CM Yogi Adityanath

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23 Apr 2024

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday slammed the Congress party and said that India will run by the “Constitution made by Bhimrao Ambedkar and not by any Sharia law".

While addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, Yogi Adityanath launched a veiled attack on Congress and said that in 1970, the party gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao', and, “poverty was not eradicated but one family got complete freedom to loot the resources of the country."

The Lok Sabha constituency of Amroha will cast its vote during the second phase of elections on April 26. Other constituencies that will also vote on the same day include Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr (SC), Aligarh, and Mathura.

Yogi further added, “The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said while being the Prime Minister that Muslims have the first right to the resources of the country...So where will our Dalits, backward, poor, farmers etc. go?"

Slamming the INDI alliance, UP CM said, “Those who have come before you today in the form of INDI alliance have betrayed the country and have come before you with their manifesto to betray again...Congress says that if our government is formed then we will implement Sharia law... India will run by the Constitution made by Bhimrao Ambedkar and not by any Sharia law."

The Lok Sabha election 2024 in Uttar Pradesh is taking place in seven stages, from April 19 to June 1. The counting of votes from these seven phases will take place on June 4, and the result will be announced on the same day.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 303 seats, while the Congress, with only 52 seats, remained in the Opposition without enough members to qualify for the Leader of the Opposition role.

Source: livemint.com

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https://www.livemint.com/politics/news/lok-sabha-elections-2024-constitution-bhimrao-ambedkar-sharia-law-yogi-adityanath-bjp-congress-indi-alliance-up-pm-modi-11713859143096.html

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In Contrast to Rajasthan, Modi Dons Muslim-Friendly Face in Aligarh with Increased Haj Quota

 

PM Modi/ File picture

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23.04.24

Piyush Srivastava

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government had got Saudi Arabia to increase India’s Haj quota and arranged for Muslim women to go on the pilgrimage alone, presenting a minority-friendly face a day after delivering a polarising speech that targeted the community.

On Sunday in Rajasthan, Modi had alluded to the largest minority community as “infiltrators” and “those who have more children” while alleging the Congress manifesto promises to take away citizens’ assets — including (Hindu) women’s mangalsutras — and hand them over to Muslims.

A day later in Aligarh, where Muslims make up 42 per cent of the population, Modi’s speech seemed to emphasise his long-time claim about being a benefactor of Muslim women — for instance, by banning the instant triple talaq.

“There was a rush earlier because of lower quotas for Haj and only powerful people used to get this opportunity (for the pilgrimage). I requested the crown prince of Saudi Arabia to increase the Haj quota for our Muslim brothers and sisters in India,” Modi said at Aligarh’s Numaish Maidan.

“Today, not only has the Haj quota for India been increased but the visa rules have also been relaxed. The government took a major decision because our Muslim mothers and sisters were unable to go on Haj alone. The government has allowed our women to set out for Haj without mahram (husband, brother or son).”

He added: “Thousands of those sisters whose dream of going on Haj has been fulfilled have blessed me…. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party always played the politics of appeasement but did nothing for the political, social and economic growth of the Muslims.”

Modi also reiterated what he had said in Rajasthan about the Congress confiscating people’s assets but left out the part about these being distributed among Muslims.

“I want to alert the people of the country about a dangerous plan of the Congress’s alliance. I alert the people of Aligarh — the Congress and the INDI alliance have their eyes on your income, on your wealth,” Modi said.

“The shahzada (prince, an allusion to Rahul Gandhi) of the Congress has said that if voted to power, they would conduct surveys about who earns how much, who has how much property… and who has how many houses.

“This wealth will be confiscated by the (Congress-INDIA) government and distributed among others…. Our mothers and sisters have gold…. It is considered sacred. But their eyes are set on amending the law to snatch the properties from our mothers and sisters — the mangalsutras of mothers and sisters are not safe.”

Source: telegraphindia.com

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https://www.telegraphindia.com/elections/lok-sabha-election-2024/in-contrast-to-rajasthan-modi-dons-muslim-friendly-face-in-aligarh-with-increased-haj-quota/cid/2015111

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Abuses In Manipur, Harassment of Media and Minorities Feature in US’ Rights Report on India

 

A riot police officer fires a tear smoke shell to disperse demonstrators protesting against the killing of two Meitei students in Imphal, Manipur, India, September 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

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23 April, 2024

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department’s annual human rights assessment found “significant” abuses in India’s northeastern Manipur state last year and attacks on minorities, journalists and dissenting voices in the rest of the country.

Manipur has seen fierce fighting between its tribal Kuki-Zo and majority Meitei populations after a court order a year ago suggested the Kuki’s minority privileges be extended to the Meitei. More than 200 people have been killed.

The State Department report said over 60,000 people were displaced between May and November in Manipur.

There was no immediate comment on the report from the Indian embassy in Washington.

In the rest of India, the State Department reported “numerous instances” in which the government and its allies “allegedly pressured or harassed media outlets critical of the government.”

For example, the Income Tax Department searched the BBC’s offices in early 2023 after it released a documentary critical of Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Indian government said at the time the search was not vindictive.

Reporters Without Borders ranked India at 161 out of 180 countries on its press freedom index in 2023, the country’s lowest position ever.

The U.S. assessment said religious minorities in India reported discrimination including calls for violence and spread of misinformation.

Modi, who is favored to win a record-equaling third term in an election under way until June 1, denies abuse of minorities and says his policies aim to benefit all Indians.

Human rights groups allege the climate has deteriorated under Modi. They point to rise in hate speech, the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir’s special status, a citizenship law that the U.N. calls “fundamentally discriminatory” and the demolition of Muslim properties in the name of removing illegal construction.

While the U.S. report hit on themes similar to recent years, political analysts say Washington is restrained in its public criticism of New Delhi because the U.S. hopes India will act as a counterweight to an expansionist China.

Source: theprint.in

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https://theprint.in/india/us-rights-report-on-india-cites-abuses-in-manipur-harassment-of-media-and-minorities/2052424/

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Israeli Protesters Burn Symbolic Passover Table Outside PM Netanyahu’s House

 

Relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held in Gaza hold placards and wave Israeli flags during a demonstration in front of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, on April 20, 2024. (AFP)

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April 23, 2024

CAESAREA, Israel: Israeli protesters burnt a symbolic Passover table outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s house at the start of the Jewish holiday on Monday, accusing him of failing hostages in Gaza.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the gates leading to the house in the coastal town of Caesarea, calling for the release of hostages abducted by Palestinian militants on October 7 and criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership.

Israeli officials say 129 captives remain in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attack, including 34 whom the military says are dead.

Their plight has cast a pall over this year’s Passover, also known in Hebrew as the “holiday of freedom.”

Guy Ben Dror said he was protesting against “the worst prime minister in the history of Israel.”

“He doesn’t want the hostages back because he doesn’t want the war to end or he’ll go to prison,” said the 54-year-old investment firm worker.

Passover commemorates the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. A ritual meal, known as a seder, takes place on the first evening, with participants sitting around a tray laden with symbolic food.

Outside Netanyahu’s house, demonstrators, some of whom were relatives of hostages, set fire to a symbolic seder table after laying out empty places on another table to mark the hostage’s continued captivity.

“We are here to share our feelings, our grief, our sorrow with the families of the kidnapped,” said demonstrator Yael Ben Porat.

“I didn’t want to celebrate this holiday when we have so many of our people, our brothers and sisters kidnapped over there in Gaza,” the 62-year-old lawyer said.

“All of us believe he is responsible for the horrible disaster of October 7,” she said, accusing Netanyahu of failures in negotiating their release.

“This night is only bitter, no freedom,” she said.

In a post on X marking the start of Passover on Monday, Netanyahu insisted “our resolve remains unyielding to see all hostages back with their families.”

“Tonight, we think of those who cannot join their families at the seder table. Their absence strengthens our resolve and reminds us of the urgency of our mission. We will not rest until each one is freed,” he said.

“The days ahead will see increased military and diplomatic efforts to secure the freedom of our hostages,” he said.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2497491/middle-east

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Encourage Children to Read Books on Racial, Religious Diversity to Promote Unity: Malay Minister

 

Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil at the Let's Read Together 10 Minutes@Bernama Program: Reading Preserves Unity at Wisma Bernama, April 23, 2024. — Bernama pic

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23 Apr 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Children need to be exposed to the culture of reading, especially books about the diversity of races and religions in this country, as an effort to cultivate a knowledgeable generation and celebrate differences, said Fahmi Fadzil.

The Communications Minister said this is to provide opportunities for them to understand the stories of different communities in the country, thereby fostering a spirit of unity that propels the nation forward.

"We need to take this opportunity to delve into the stories of the various communities in our country, and from there, we can understand and celebrate differences from a young age," he told reporters at Wisma Bernama today.

He said this after attending the ‘Let's Read Together for 10 Minutes@Bernama: Reading Preserves Unity’ programme, organised in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy in Malaysia in conjunction with the World Book and Copyright Day, which is celebrated every April 23.

Fahmi said with the era of digitalisation, he understands the challenge for parents to promote the culture of reading books among children because they have been exposed to gadgets and devices from a young age.

However, parents should play a role in piquing their interest and spending time together to read books.

"I feel that even for my children, sometimes directing them to read books is not easy, but it begins with parents saying no to devices.

"We need to start buying books, have the culture of going to bookstores, spending time together and finding books they are interested in. So these books will eventually be opened; when we ask them not to use gadgets, they will open these books," he said.

Earlier, Fahmi joined students and teachers from Sri Aria School as well as Bernama staff to spend time reading books of their own choice for 10 minutes in the lobby of Wisma Bernama.

Others who participated in the programme included Swedish Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Joachim Bergstrom, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim, Bernama Chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/04/23/encourage-children-to-read-books-on-racial-religious-diversity-to-promote-unity-says-fahmi/130355

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India

 

Congress tried to give reservation to Muslims by reducing SC/ST quota: Modi in Rajasthan

 Hamza Khan

April 23, 2024

Speaking in Rajasthan’s Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency, which votes on April 26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said the Congress, in 2004, tried to provide reservation to Muslims in Andhra Pradesh by reducing SC/ST reservations, and that it “did not care” about the Constitution.

“Sachai ye hai ki jab Congress aur INDI alliance jab sattameitha, toh ye log dalito or pichhdokeaarakshanmeisendhmaarikarke, vote bank politics keliye, unkikhaasjaamaat ko alag se aarakshandenachahte the. Jab ki samvidhaaniskebilkulkhilaafhai. (The truth is that when the Congress was in power, they wanted to give separate reservation to their special vote bank by breaking into the reservation of Dalits and backward classes. Whereas the Constitution is completely against this), he said.

“The right to reservation provided by Babasaheb Ambedkar to Dalits, backwards and advivasis – Congress and INDI alliance wanted to give it to Muslims on the basis of religion,” PM Modi said.

“Congress party ki sochhameshatushtikaran ki rahihai, vote bank ki rajneeti ki rahihai. 2004 jaise hi Congress ki kendramein sarkar bani, usmesabsepehlekiyegayekaamomeintha… Andhra Pradesh mei SC/ST ki reservation mein se kami karke, musalmaano ko rservation dene ka prayas. Ye ek pilot prokecttha, jisse Congress pure deshmeinaazmanachahatithi. 2004 se 2010 ke beech, Congress ne 4 baar Andhra Pradesh mein Muslim reservation laagukarni ki koshish ki lekinkaanooniarchane ki vajah se, Supreme Court ki jaagrutakekaran, woh jo apnemazbootmansubalekechale the, woh pure nahikarpaaye. 2011 mein Congress ne issedeshmeilaagukarne ki koshish ki, SC/ST aur OBC ko milahuaadhikaar, cheenkarke vote bank kerajneetikeliye, auro ko dene ka khelkiya. Congress ne itneprayas ye jaantebhujtekiye ki ye sab samvidhaan ki moolbhavnakekhilaftha. Lekin Congress ne samvidhaan ki, Baba Saheb Ambedkar ki parvahnahi ki. (Congress party’s ideology has always been that of appeasement and vote bank politics. In 2004, when Congress formed the government at the Centre, one of the first things they did was to include Muslims in the SC/ST quota in Andhra Pradesh. This was a pilot project that the Congress government wanted to implement across the country. Between 2004 and 2010, they tried to implement a Muslim reservation four times but could not because of legal hurdles and an alert Supreme Court. In 2011, Congress wanted to implement this across the country, and give the rights of SC/ST and OBC to others for vote bank politics. Congress made these attempts despite knowing this is against the Constitution, but they didn’t care about the Constitution),” he said.

The remarks come two days after Modi, speaking at a rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara, said that the Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”. “Earlier, when they (the Congress) were in power, they had said Muslims have the first right to the wealth of the nation. This means they will distribute this wealth to those who have more children, to infiltrators,” he had said.

The PM’s remarks had prompted a backlash from the opposition, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge calling it “hate speech”.

On Tuesday, the PM said, “Congress party has toyed with Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. When the Constitution was drafted, reservation based on religion was opposed, so that SC, ST and OBC castes could get protection. But Manmohan Singh in his speech had said that Muslims have the first right on the country’s resources. This was not an isolated statement. Congress’s thinking has always been of appeasement and vote bank politics. As soon as the Congress government came to power at the Centre in 2004, its first task was to try to provide reservation to Muslims by reducing SC/ST reservations in Andhra Pradesh. This was a pilot project, which Congress wanted to try in the entire country. Between 2004 and 2010, Congress tried four times to implement Muslim reservations in Andhra Pradesh. However, due to legal hurdles and awareness of the Supreme Court, they could not succeed in their plans. In 2011, Congress tried to implement it across the country. They snatched the rights given to SC/ST and OBC and gave them to others for vote bank politics. Congress made all these efforts knowing that all this was against the basic spirit of the Constitution. But Congress did not care about the Constitution or about Babasaheb Ambedkar. When we got the chance, we finished the Muslim quota they had carved out of the SC/ST quota.”

He also said that in states under the Congress rule, even reading the Hanuman Chalisa had become a crime. He referred to a shopkeeper being beaten up in Karnataka “only because he was listening to the Hanuman Chalisa sitting in his small shop”.

He said that Rajasthan too has similarly suffered. “For the first time on Ram Navami this time, Shobha Yatra procession was taken out in Rajasthan now that the Congress government is out… In a state like Rajasthan where people chant Ram-Ram, Congress had put curbs on Ram Navami,” he said.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-modi-rajasthan-tonk-speech-congress-muslims-9285772/

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Kerala CM urges EC to take action against PM Modi over his remarks against Muslims

22nd April 2024

Marziya Sharif 

Kannur: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged remarks against Muslims as “anti-national” and urged the Election Commission to take action against him.

Addressing an election meeting in this northern district, the Marxist veteran said the prime minister had insulted the Muslim community by specifically naming them.

Referring to Modi’s controversial remarks during a poll rally in Rajasthan on Sunday, Vijayan said the prime minister had carried out a communal campaign by fabricating imaginary stories to create anti-Muslim hatred among people.

Modi’s speech was “totally anti-national” that humiliate a section of people in the country, he said.

Stating that the PM had described the Muslim community as infiltrators, Vijayan wondered how could he call the people of the country like that.

“Action should be taken against the prime minister. The Election Commission should be ready to take action against him,” the chief minister said.

Vijayan also said the prime minister is a person who is responsible for leading the people of the country together.

Modi, during a poll rally in Rajasthan’s Banswara on Sunday, said that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute people’s wealth to Muslims.

Modi also alleged that the Congress plans to give people’s hard-earned money and valuables to “infiltrators” and “those who have more children.”

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/kerala-cm-urges-ec-to-take-action-against-pm-modi-over-his-remarks-against-muslims-3013465/

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Shahi Idgah: Hindu side says forcible possession of temple land doesn’t make it Waqf property

22nd April 2024

Marziya Sharif

Prayagraj: The Hindu side in the matter of Shri Krishna Janmbhoomi and Shahi Eidgah suit countered the Muslim side’s contention in the Allahabad High Court on Monday that the dispute is related to a Waqf property.

The property in question was a temple and “after taking forcible possession of the same they started to offer Namaz but by this, the character of land cannot be changed”, the counsel for the Hindu side argued, adding it was not a Waqf property and the Wakf Act is not applicable to it.

Since it “is not Waqf property, this court has the jurisdiction to hear the matter”, the counsel said.

The Muslim side had questioned the maintainability of the suit, claiming the disputed Shahi Idgah Masjid is a Waqf property and thus the jurisdiction to hear the matter is only with the Wakf Tribunal and not the civil court.

Justice Mayank Kumar Jain, who was hearing the petitions on the maintainability of the suit, fixed April 30 as the next date of hearing.

Replying to the arguments from the Muslim side, the Hindu side submitted that the suit is maintainable and the plea regarding non-maintainability can only be decided after leading evidence.

“The plea regarding the application of Places of Worship Act as well as Waqf Act can only be determined by evidence by the parties in suit and cannot be decided while hearing an application under Order 7 Rule 11 of Civil Procedure Code,” the counsel submitted.

Earlier, Vishnu Jain, appearing on the Hindu side, had said that merely by saying that now a mosque is there on the property, the Wakf Act will not apply.

The religious character of the property cannot be changed by merely demolishing the structure. He further submitted that it has to be seen and decided whether the alleged Waqf deed is valid or not.

“All these things are to be seen during the trial and thus the present suit is maintainable,” he had argued.

Source: siasat.com

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https://www.siasat.com/shahi-idgah-hindu-side-says-forcible-possession-of-temple-land-doesnt-make-it-waqf-property-3013428/

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NCBC slams blanket categorisation of Muslims as backward caste in Karnataka

Apr 23, 2024

New Delhi, The Karnataka government's decision to categorise the entire Muslim community as a backward caste for reservation purposes in the state has drawn criticism from the National Commission for Backward Classes , which said such blanket categorisation undermines the principles of social justice.

According to the data submitted by the Karnataka Backward Classes Welfare Department, all castes and communities within the Muslim religion have been enlisted as socially and educationally backward classes under Category IIB in the State List of Backward Classes.

The NCBC, during a field visit last year, examined the state's reservation policy for OBCs in educational institutions and government jobs.

"All castes/communities of Muslim religion of Karnataka are being treated as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and listed as Muslim Caste separately under Category IIB in the State List of Backward Classes for providing them reservation in admission into educational institutions and in appointments to posts and vacancies in the services of the State for the purpose of Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India," the NCBC said in a statement on Monday night.

This categorisation has led to the provision of reservation benefits for 17 socially and educationally backward castes under Category I and 19 castes under Category II-A, respectively.

The NCBC said the blanket categorisation of Muslims as a backward caste undermines the principles of social justice, particularly for the marginalised Muslim castes and communities identified as socially and educationally backward.

However, the NCBC emphasised that while there are indeed underprivileged and historically marginalised sections within the Muslim community, treating the entire religion as backward overlooks the diversity and complexities within Muslim society.

"The religion-based reservation affects and works against ethics of social justice for categorically downtrodden Muslim castes/communities and identified socially and educationally backward Muslim castes/communities under Category-I and Category II-A of State List of Backward Classes. Hence, socially and educationally backward castes/communities cannot be treated at par with an entire religion," the NCBC stated.

The NCBC also voiced concern over the impact of such reservations on the overall framework of social justice, particularly in the context of local body polls.

While Karnataka provides 32 per cent reservation to backward classes in local body elections, including Muslims, the Commission stressed the need for a nuanced approach that accounts for the diversity within these communities.

According to the 2011 Census, Muslims constitute 12.92 per cent of the population in Karnataka.

Source: hindustantimes.com

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https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ncbc-slams-blanket-categorisation-of-muslims-as-backward-caste-in-karnataka-101713849279510.html

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Bombay High Court rules in favour of Dawoodi Bohra community leader Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin in succession suit

 Omkar Gokhale

 April 23, 2024

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a suit challenging Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin’s position as the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community by his challenger Syedna Taher Fakhruddin, a decade after the suit was filed.

Over a year after it concluded the hearing and reserved its verdict, Justice Gautam S Patel passed a judgment in the dispute between Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin and his challenger Syedna Taher Fakhruddin. After hearing the arguments in the suit for final disposal since November 2022, Justice Patel concluded the hearing on April 5, 2023.

While pronouncing the verdict on Tuesday, Justice Patel clarified he has kept the verdict “as neutral as possible for personalities involved” as ‘feelings will run high’ and he has decided the issue “on proof and not faith”.

A religious denomination among Shia Muslims, the Dawoodi Bohras are traditionally a community of traders and entrepreneurs. The top religious leader of the community is known as the Dai-al-Mutlaq. There are five lakh Dawoodi Bohras in India and over 10 lakh world over.

In 2014, the 52nd Dai-al-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, passed away, and his son, Mufaddal Saifuddin, succeeded him. This was challenged by Syedna’s half-brother, Khuzaima Qutbuddin, in the Bombay High Court. After Qutbuddin died in 2016 in the US, his son, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin, became the plaintiff and wanted to be declared the leader of the Dawoodi Bohras by the High Court. Fakhruddin claimed his father conferred the nass or the conferment of succession upon him and thus he should be declared the Dai.

As per faith and Dawoodi Bohra doctrine, a successor is appointed through “divine inspiration”. A nass can be conferred upon any deserving member of the community and not necessarily a family member of the current Dai, although the latter is often the practice.

While deciding issues framed in the matter, Justice Patel held the suit was maintainable and reliefs prayed for by the plaintiff were not barred by the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Trusts Act, 1950. Justice Patel added the plaintiff did not prove a valid nass was conferred/pronounced on him as stated in the plaint. Justice Patel also held the plaintiff could not prove whether nass once conferred cannot be retracted, revoked, changed or superseded. The Court added the defendant proved that a valid nass was conferred on him by the 52nd Dai.

In his suit filed in 2014, the original plaintiff Qutbuddin had sought from High Court to restrain the late Syedna’s son from acting as the Dai alleging that Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin had taken over the leadership role in a “fraudulent manner”. Qutbuddin claimed that after Burhanuddin became the new Dai-al-Mutlaq, taking over from his father Syedna Taher Saifuddin in 1965, he had publicly appointed his half-brother as the mazoon or the second in command and privately anointed him as his successor through a secret nass before the mazoon announcement on December 10, 1965.

Fakhruddin, through Senior Advocate Anand Desai, had claimed his father conferred the nass upon him and thus he should be declared the Dai.

Representing Saifuddin, Senior Advocates Iqbal Chagla, Janak Dwarkadas, and FredunDevitre argued the nass of 1965 lacked witnesses and could not be accepted. They argued that as per established and prevalent doctrines of the Dawoodi Bohra faith, nass could be changed and revoked. Saifuddin had also contended that even if nass had been conferred on the original plaintiff in 1965, as per the doctrinal belief of the community, only the last nass would be valid, therefore he was rightfully conferred to be Syedna.

Dwarkadas also questioned the silence maintained by Syedna Qutbuddin about his claim to the post of Dai between 2011 and 2014, and said he only made the claim after the Dai’s demise as an “afterthought.” However, Desai submitted that the four nass on the defendant did not take place and were concocted.

Source: indianexpress.com

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https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-dawoodi-bohra-community-leader-syedna-muffadal-saifuddin-succession-suit-9285812/

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North America

 

Pro-Palestinian protests gain momentum across US universities

23 April 2024

Pro-Palestinian protests have gained momentum at American universities, with students raging against the seats of learning’s connection to the Israeli regime and Washington’s all-out support for Tel Aviv’s ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.

A large group of demonstrators has established a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University, where hundreds of students have been calling on the university to divest from companies that have ties to the Israeli regime.

As means of trying to confront the rallies, university authorities announced that classes would be held virtually on Monday.

Earlier in the week, authorities called in the police, who rounded up more than a hundred protesters. The move sparked a bigger turnout over the weekend.

Protests also spread to other campuses, including MIT, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Yale.

Also on Monday, at least 47 people were arrested at Yale after reportedly refusing requests to disperse.

"Students who were arrested also will be referred for Yale disciplinary action, which includes a range of sanctions, such as reprimand, probation, or suspension," the university said in a statement.

US President Joe Biden has denounced the student protests, saying he condemned those whom he alleged “don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians."

The country has been throwing unreserved political, military, and intelligence support behind the war that the Israeli regime began on October 7 last year, following a retaliatory operation by Gaza’s resistance groups.

At least 34,097 people have died across the Palestinian territory ever since the onset of the military onslaught.

Women and children comprise some 72 percent of the victims of the war, which has also wounded as many as 76,980 others.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/23/724193/United-States-universities-protests-Israel-war-Gaza

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Hamas to survive, reconstitute as Israel fails to destroy command centers, tunnels: US media

 23 April 2024

An American daily has highlighted Israel’s failure to destroy tunnels dug by Hamas below the Gaza Strip, saying the underground passages will allow the resistance group to “survive and reconstitute” after the ongoing Israeli aggression.

Citing current and former US officials, The New York Times reported on Monday that Israel has not been able to dismantle Gaza’s extensive tunnel system that runs for hundreds of miles, at points reaching 15 stories below ground.

The system contains larger complexes of underground rooms, used for command posts, it added.

“Despite Hamas’s heavy losses, much of its top leadership in Gaza remains in place, ensconced in a vast underground network of tunnels and operations centers,” the report said.

“Those tunnels will allow Hamas to survive and reconstitute once the fighting stops.”

The NYT report also said that the occupying regime has not achieved its primary goals of the Gaza onslaught, including “fully destroying Hamas” and finding Israeli captives held in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Israel waged its genocidal US-backed war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 34,151 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 77,084 others.

Douglas London, a retired officer of the US spy agency CIA, said the Palestinian resistance against Israel “is an idea as much as it is a physical, tangible group of people.”

“So for as much damage Israel might have inflicted on Hamas, it still has capability, resilience, funding and a long line of people most likely waiting to sign up and join after all the fighting and all the destruction and all the loss of life,” he added.

Last month, a US intelligence assessment questioned Israel’s ability to eliminate Hamas, saying the resistance group is likely to pose a challenge to the regime for years.

“Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralize Hamas’s underground infrastructure,” the assessment read.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/23/724200/Gaza-tunnels-Hamas-survive-reconstitute-Israel-war

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UNICEF calls for protecting children by preventing use of explosive weapons in populated areas

Merve Aydogan

22.04.2024

The UN children's agency on Monday highlighted the urgent need for action to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, stating that meaningful measures could nearly halve the number of child casualties in conflicts worldwide.

"Between 2018 and 2022, explosive weapons were responsible for nearly half - 49.8 per cent - of the more than 47,500 instances of children killed and maimed that were verified by the United Nations, in more than 24 conflict zones globally. The vast majority of these instances occurred in populated areas," said a UNICEF statement.

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban emphasized the major impact on children, stating: "The evidence is irrefutable—when explosive weapons are used in populated areas, children suffer profoundly, not just physically but in every aspect of their lives."

Chaiban stressed the importance of international efforts to address this issue, particularly as countries gather in Oslo, Norway, for the first international follow-up conference to the Political Declaration on the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas?.

"This provides a crucial opportunity to better protect children, their families, and communities from armed conflict," Chaiban said.

Highlighting the devastating consequences beyond physical injuries, Chaiban emphasized the urgent need for sustained international action.

“Prevention is a critical aspect of ensuring all children are protected," he added.

Source: aa.com.tr

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https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/unicef-calls-for-protecting-children-by-preventing-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/3199451

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US split over whether Netanyahu capable of accepting Palestinian component of Saudi deal

 JACOB MAGID

22 April 2024

WASHINGTON — Despite the Gaza war’s evisceration of Israel’s image throughout the Arab world, Saudi Arabia has continued holding high-level discussions with the White House in recent weeks aimed at brokering a normalization agreement with Jerusalem, three US officials told The Times of Israel.

Significant obstacles remain, and any possible deal would hinge on securing a temporary truce in Gaza through a long-elusive hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, the officials clarified.

Still, they all asserted that the gaps between Washington and Riyadh are bridgeable.

Where the US officials said the administration is more divided is on whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be prepared to advance the cause of Palestinian statehood to get the Saudis on board.

The details of what the Palestinian element of the deal will be are still being finalized, but it will require Israel to take concrete steps aimed at establishing a pathway to an eventual Palestinian state, the officials said.

Over much of his years in power, Netanyahu has spoken of his ability to thwart international efforts to promote a two-state solution. Since October 7, those boasts have only grown.

“Everyone knows that I am the one who for decades blocked the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger our existence,” the premier said in February.

It’s familiarity with his political maneuvering that has led some senior members of the administration to conclude that Netanyahu is incapable of making the kinds of concessions necessary, even if doing so would secure the normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia that he has long pursued, the officials said.

However, others in the administration believe that faced with a choice between an agreement with Saudi Arabia — which would include Riyadh serving as something of a guarantor for the reconstruction of Gaza and the reform of the Palestinian Authority along with other Arab allies — or a scenario in which Israel is left alone to manage the enclave where Hamas will remain the most dominant Palestinian force, Netanyahu will ultimately choose the former.

“Those are the options. No one in the region is going to bail Israel out in Gaza if it’s not in the context of the diplomatic initiative that we’re trying to promote, and you cannot defeat Hamas only through military means,” said one of the US officials, who all spoke to The Times of Israel last week on condition of anonymity.

Getting Bibi to ‘Yes’

Just as the Palestinian component is seen as essential to the normalization deal, given sensitivity to the Palestinian cause in Saudi Arabia and among Congressional progressives; the normalization deal is viewed as critical for getting a major defense agreement between Washington and Riyadh over the finish line, given the need to placate both pro-Israel Republicans who are less inclined to back a deal crafted by a Democratic White House, alongside Democrats who have been critical of the Gulf kingdom’s human rights record.

The US officials said there are outstanding issues regarding the legally enshrined defense guarantees Saudi Arabia is seeking in addition to US support for a civilian nuclear program, but they said significant progress has been made on both fronts in recent months.

Accordingly, the US-Saudi bilateral part of the deal is further along than the normalization part, with Netanyahu showing no indication that he’d be prepared to accept the eventual creation of a demilitarized Palestinian state, the officials said.

This hasn’t stopped the Biden administration from proceeding with the negotiations in the hopes that it’ll soon have a proposal that can present to Netanyahu, forcing him to choose between regional integration and maintaining his far-right coalition partners who would surely jump ship if he were to accept the establishment of a future Palestinian state, no matter how theoretical, conditioned or far-off.

While stressing that there are exceptions to the rule, the first US official said that the divide in the administration over whether Netanyahu will agree to the Saudi deal was largely between those in the White House and State Department officials.

“Key figures in the White House are much more optimistic than many in the State Department that Netanyahu can get to a ‘yes’ on this,” the US official said, adding that the White House’s view will ultimately be more decisive.

“Bibi clearly cares about his legacy, and accepting this kind of deal is the only thing that would prevent his from being defined almost entirely by October 7,” a second US official argued, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

“He’s not being asked to accept the creation of a Palestinian state tomorrow, and the guarantees Israel will be receiving from us and the Arabs will provide them with more security than they have today,” the second official added.

“We wouldn’t be doing this if we thought the plan would just end up sitting in a drawer,” the official continued, insisting that the goal was not simply to present this as a “thought exercise.”

And while the US talks with Saudi Arabia began well before October 7, the appetite for a normalization deal in Washington has only expanded since, as the increased Saudi involvement in the Palestinian arena that the deal would require is seen as essential for getting Israel to a place in which it feels secure enough to draw its war against Hamas to a close, the second US official said.

But a third US official was much more pessimistic, asserting that Netanyahu’s opposition to Palestinian statehood was ideological and doesn’t just stem from fears that his coalition partners will abandon him.

“He’ll put off making a decision until it is too late,” the official said, noting that the window to secure a deal is closing, given that Congress needs time to authorize the US-Saudi bilateral component.

The official also noted that support on the Hill for such a deal is not what it was before October 7, as far-right and far-left flanks of both parties that become increasingly hostile to Israel.

“The idea that [former US president Donald] Trump, is going to allow Republicans to approve this months before an election also seems a bit far-fetched,” the third official added.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-split-over-whether-netanyahu-capable-of-accepting-palestinian-component-of-saudi-deal/

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CAIR-CT Supports Yale Student Protesters, Urges University to Divest from Weapons Companies

Ismail Allison

April 22, 2024

April 22, 2024 (New Haven) – The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) stands in solidarity with Yale University students and their legitimate demands for the school to divest from weapons manufacturing companies contributing to Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Further we deplore the arrest of more than 47 students at Beinecke Plaza this morning who were engaged in a peaceful protest against Yale’s policies. By divesting from these military companies, Yale can reaffirm its commitment to promoting peace, justice, and human dignity, both within its campus community and on the global stage.

Today’s protest and arrests come on a day when health authorities in Khan Yunis have uncovered mass graves at the site of the Nasser Hospital. Some of the bodies are reported to be those of children whose hands were tied behind their backs and hospital workers who were still wearing scrubs. Evidence of this type of extra-judicial killings further supports allegations made at the Court of International Justice earlier this year that Israel is engaging in a genocide in Gaza.

“Yale University has a proud tradition of standing against injustices such as apartheid,” said Farhan Memon, Board Chairman of CAIR-CT. “We urge Yale to uphold this legacy by divesting from military companies whose products fuel wars and human suffering. By associating with entities involved in genocide or human rights abuses, Yale risks being perceived as complicit in supporting oppression and violence, rather than advancing knowledge and understanding,” said Memon.

“Schools, as bastions of knowledge and enlightenment, bear a moral responsibility to support initiatives that promote peace and security. Investments in education contribute to the advancement of society, fostering innovation, understanding, and cooperation. Conversely, investing in companies that perpetuate warfare and conflict not only contradicts the mission of educational institutions but also undermines efforts towards global peace and harmony.”

CAIR Connecticut also notes that Israeli Occupation Forces have destroyed 13 colleges and universities in Gaza in a deliberate strategy to eradicate centers of learning where despite being refugees Palestinians have become one of the most literate and educated populations in the world. The administration of Yale should be using its resources to condemn this cultural genocide rather than silencing the voices of students who are taking a moral stand.

The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting understanding and mutual respect among all people, particularly regarding issues related to Islam and Muslims in America.

For more information contact: Farhan Memon, Chairman (fmemon@cair.com 203-517-6526) or Hassan Awward, Director of Operations (hawwad@cair.com 202-213-6844)

Source: cair.com

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https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ct-supports-yale-student-protesters-urges-university-to-divest-from-weapons-companies/

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Mideast

 

Israel thirsty for murder, blood: Hamas on Gaza mass graves

22 April 2024

The Palestinian resistance movement of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a genocidal Israeli war, reacts amid discovery of more bodies from mass graves created by the occupying regime at a hospital in the southern part of the coastal sliver.

On Monday, Palestinian civil defense workers announced digging up about 73 more bodies of those, who have been buried inside the Nasser Medical Complex in the city of Khan Younis.

So far, Palestinians have recovered the remains of some 300 people, mostly women, children, and the elderly, who were buried in the mass graves that were created last month, when Israeli forces were besieging the facility.

“What are revealed of heinous scenes of brutal crimes every day, especially with the discovery of the bodies of children and women who were executed and buried in hospital courtyards, confirm that we are facing a fascist enemy thirsty for murder and blood,” Hamas said.

It further called Israel, a regime that was “devoid of all human values, who does not hesitate to commit the most heinous crimes against civilians.”

At least 34,097 people have died across Gaza since October 7 last year, when the Israeli regime started taking the blockaded strip of land under the war in response to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm by the territory’s resistance movements.

Women and children comprise some 72 percent of the victims of the war, which has also wounded as many as 76,980 others.

Despite the unabated campaign of bloodshed and destruction, the regime has so far fallen short of realizing its goals, including defeating Gaza’s resistance and causing forced displacement of the territory’s entire population to neighboring Egypt.

Hamas, meanwhile, lamented that the “criminal cover” that was being provided for the Israeli regime by the United States -- Tel Aviv’s biggest ally -- which, the movement denounced as, “a full partner in the crimes of genocide and massacres.”

Throughout the onslaught, the US has supplied the Tel Aviv regime with more than 10,000 tons of military equipment.

Last month, The Washington Post reported that the US had quietly authorized over 100 separate weapons sales to Israel since the start of the Gaza war.

On Saturday, the US House of Representatives passed a whopping $26-billion so-called aid package for the Israeli regime. The Senate could take the bill up as early as Tuesday. Senate approval would then send the measure to President Joe Biden for his signature.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/22/724190/Palestine-Israel-Hamas-reaction-mass-graves-Khan-Younis-Nasser-hospital

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Tent compound rises in Khan Younis as Israel prepares for Rafah offensive

April 23, 2024

Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press appear to show a new compound of tents being built near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli military continues to signal it plans an offensive targeting the city of Rafah.

The tent construction is near Khan Younis, which has been targeted by repeated Israeli military operations over recent weeks. Israel has said it plans to evacuate civilians from Rafah during an anticipated offensive on the southern city, where hundreds of thousands of people have taken refuge during the war, now in its seventh month.

Also Monday, a failed rocket strike was launched at a base housing US-led coalition forces at Rumalyn, Syria, marking the first time since Feb. 4 that Iranian-backed militias have attacked a US facility in Iraq or Syria, a US defense official said. No personnel were injured in the attack, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The conflict has sparked regional unrest pitting Israel and the US against Iran and allied militant groups across the Middle East. Israel and Iran traded fire directly this month, raising fears of all-out war.

The war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which Hamas and other militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages. Israel says militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

The Israel-Hamas war has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, at least two-thirds of them children and women. It has devastated Gaza’s two largest cities and left a swath of destruction. Around 80 percent of the territory’s population have fled to other parts of the besieged coastal enclave.

The US House of Representatives approved a $26 billion aid package on Saturday that includes around $9 billion in humanitarian assistance for Gaza, which experts say is on the brink of famine, as well as billions for Israel. The US Senate could pass the package as soon as Tuesday, and President Joe Biden has promised to sign it immediately.

Source: arabnews.com

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2497646/middle-east

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Hezbollah fires 35 rockets as Passover starts in Israel, IDF strikes back

APRIL 22, 2024

After the Lebanon-based terror organization fired 35 rockets at Israel's North on Monday, the IDF responded by striking at the sources of the launches, the military said.

The source of the strike was in the area of Arzoun in southern Lebanon.

The Hezbollah launches were identified as crossing into the area of Ein Zeitim in northern Israel. No casualties were reported.

At the time of the launches, rocket sirens sounded in northern Israeli cities, including Safed.

Shortly following the rocket sirens sounded, a slew of possible hostile aircraft intrusion sirens sounded in a number of other northern communities.

Hezbollah attack follows IDF strikes on the terror organization

The rocket fire from Lebanon follows strikes from IAF fighter jets, which earlier on Monday morning,  struck two Hezbollah military structures in the areas of Arzoun and Odaisseh in southern Lebanon.

Source: jpost.com

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https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-798304

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Iraq won’t tolerate violation of its sovereignty, PM tells Erdogan

22 April 2024

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani has told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the Arab country would not tolerate any violation of its territorial integrity in a clear reference to Turkey’s sporadic attacks on suspected hideouts of Kurdish militants in north and northwestern Iraq.

Sudani made the remarks in a joint press conference after a meeting with Erdogan in Baghdad on Monday.

He said that Iraq will also prevent any use of its territory for attacks on other countries.

Sundai’s reference to Turkey’s attacks on Iraqi soil came hours after Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid made similar remarks in a meeting with Erdogan, where he urged respect for Iraq’s sovereignty and security.

Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad which began earlier on Monday is a first for the Turkish president since 2011. For years, authorities in the central Iraqi government have been at odds with Erdogan over his way of handling the issue of Kurdish militancy and his oil dealings with the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.

Iraqi media reports said Sudani and Erdogan had discussed security along with a series of key economic and trade issues, including the building of a $17-billion road project from south to north of Iraq as well as issues related to Iraq’s share of water from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers which originate in Turkey.

Erdogan said in the press conference with Sudani that his country is determined to boost relations with Iraq in a way that guarantees the rights of the Arab country as a neighbor.

The two also reiterated their condemnations of the ongoing Israeli onslaught against the Palestinians in Gaza.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/22/724171/Iraq-Sudani-Erdogan-violation-territorial-integrity

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Iran calls on European Union to sanction Israel

Apr 23, 2024

TEHRAN, Apr. 23 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has called on the European Union (EU) to act responsibly and sanction the Israeli regime.

Criticizing the European Union for deciding to impose further illegal restrictions on Iran just because the country has exercised its right to defend itself against the brazen aggression of the Israeli regime, the top Iranian diplomat stressed that the EU should not follow Washington's advice to appease the criminal Israeli regime.

"It is regrettable to see the EU deciding quickly to apply more unlawful restrictions against Iran just because Iran exercised its right to self-defense in the face of Israel’s reckless aggression," he wrote on X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday.

"The EU should not follow Washington’s advice to satisfy the criminal Israeli regime."

"It is also regrettable that while the Israeli regime continues its genocide against the Palestinians through different war crimes, missile attacks & famine, the EU’s reaction to such crimes is almost nothing more than hollow words. The EU must act responsibly and sanction the Israeli regime."

The Israeli regime attacked Iran's consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus on April 1. The Israeli aggression led to the destruction of the entire building and the martyrdom and injury of the entire people inside it.

Seven of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military advisors were martyred following the Israeli attack on Iran's consulate in Damascus, IRGC said in a statement.

In response to the Israeli aggression, Iran attacked the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories with a barrage of drones and missiles early on Sunday.

Following the attack, Iran announced that it does not seek to create tension in the region and had carried out the anti-Zionist operation to punish the Zionist regime. However, the Iranian political and military officials have strongly warned that the country would give a severe response in case of any fresh Israeli aggression.

Source: mehrnews.com

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https://en.mehrnews.com/news/214255/Iran-calls-on-European-Union-to-sanction-Israel

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Israel fails to provide evidence for allegations against UNRWA staff: Report

22 April 2024

Israel has failed to provide evidence of claims that some workers with the UN relief agency UNRWA were affiliated with Palestinian resistance movements, an independent review for the UN says.

The review, by an independent panel led by ex-French minister Catherine Colonna and published on Monday, underscored the lack of substantiation for broader allegations made by Israel that accused numerous UNRWA employees of affiliation with Hamas or Islamic Jihad resistance groups.

“Israeli authorities have to date not provided any supporting evidence nor responded to letters from UNRWA in March, and again in April, requesting the names and supporting evidence that would enable UNRWA to open an investigation,” the report stated.

The Colonna report, which was commissioned by the UN in the wake of Israeli allegations, found that UNRWA has consistently supplied employee lists to Israel for vetting and that Israel "has not informed UNRWA of any concerns relating to any UNRWA staff based on these staff lists since 2011.”

The Colonna report also deemed UNRWA indispensable for providing essential humanitarian aid and services.

“In the absence of a political solution between Israel and the Palestinians, UNRWA remains pivotal in providing life-saving humanitarian aid and essential social services, particularly in health and education, to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank,” it said.

Following Israel’s allegations, Major donors cut their funding to the agency in January, which is the primary source of humanitarian aid not only to Gaza but also to Palestinian refugees throughout the region.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees says some of its employees were tortured by the occupying regime to falsely admit that the agency had ties with Hamas and its retaliatory operation in October last year.

Israeli authorities, without providing evidence, claim that at least 12 UNWRA staff participated in the Oct. 7 operation against Israel and that they used UN vehicles.

US financial support of UNRWA has been blocked for at least a year in the wake of the allegations. UK ministers have also said they would wait for the Colonna report to make a decision on resuming funding.

Most of the donor nations have resumed their funding in recent weeks.

The funding was cut despite the dire needs of 2.3 million people in Gaza, most of whom have been forced from their homes by the Israeli savage military campaign since 7 October.

Commenting on the report, Louis Charbonneau, the UN director at Human Rights Watch, said: “I don’t think the findings in the Colonna report are particularly surprising. Governments who haven’t should immediately resume full funding to UNRWA so it can deliver aid to desperate civilians. Many Palestinians are facing famine because of Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war.”

Palestinians continue to endure a US-Israeli genocidal war in the besieged Gaza strip, the scene of death and destruction on a daily basis.

At least 34,097 Palestinians have been killed; most of them women and children, and another 76,980 individuals have sustained injuries. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.

Source: presstv.ir

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https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/04/22/724183/Palestine-Gaza-UN-Israel-UNRWA-Colonna-

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Iran says its nuclear weapons ban is still in place after calls to abandon fatwa

22 April 2024

Nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s nuclear doctrine, the country’s foreign ministry said on Monday, days after an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander warned that Tehran might change its nuclear policy if pressured by Israeli threats.

“Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear program serves only peaceful purposes. Nuclear weapons have no place in our nuclear doctrine,” ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said during a press conference in Tehran.

Following a spike in tensions with Israel, the IRGC commander in charge of nuclear security Ahmad Haghtalab said last week that Israeli threats could push Tehran to “review its nuclear doctrine and deviate from its previous considerations.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on Tehran’s nuclear program, issued a fatwa, or religious decree, in the early 2000s banning the development of nuclear weapons because they are contrary to “the spirit of Islam.”

During Friday Ramadan prayers on April 5, the regime’s main imam gave a sermon calling on the supreme leader to cancel the fatwa and order the Iranian nuclear agency to build a bomb, as retaliation for an alleged Israeli strike that killed a senior IRGC officer. Instead, Iran launched a barrage of over 300 missiles and drones at Israel.

Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in February that Iran has continued to enrich uranium at rates up to 60 percent purity, which is far beyond the needs for commercial nuclear use and is a short technical step away from weapons-grade 90%.

Iran claims its nuclear program is only for civilian use, pointing to the fatwa. However, experts say there is no civilian application for uranium enriched to that level, and Iran has been known to ramp up nuclear activity to flex its muscle during times of increased tensions with the West.

Israel and others have accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons despite the ban, lobbying for sanctions and a credible military threat should safeguards be breached.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have abated somewhat after a tense first half of April that began with an alleged Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s consulate in Damascus, Syria, that killed seven IRGC members, including two generals.

Iran retaliated on April 13, launching over 300 missiles and drones, which Israel, with the help of the United States and other allies, intercepted almost entirely, though a 7-year-old Bedouin girl in the south was severely injured in the attack, and minimal damage was done to the Nevatim airbase outside Beersheba.

Confirming an earlier report by @nytimes, Israeli intelligence and defense analyst Ronen Solomon @IntelliTimes said Saturday satellite images show the radar of Iran's S-300 air defense system has been destroyed at the Air Force base in Isfahan in the suspected Israeli attack.… pic.twitter.com/IYRXae6ueq

Israel, in response, was reported on Friday morning to have struck an airbase near Isfahan in central Iran, damaging a radar defense system. Iran downplayed the attack, saying no link to Israel was found, thus allaying fears of a wider regional war.

According to The New York Times, the radar system was guarding the secret Natanz nuclear facility, thought to be hidden deep underground.

Source: timesofisrael.com

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https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-says-nuclear-arms-ban-still-in-place-after-calls-to-abandon-fatwa/

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RSF: More than 100 journalists killed within 6 months in Gaza

APRIL 23, 2024

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday that the Israeli army killed around 105 journalists since Oct. 7, including at least 22 who were killed while carrying out their work. Access to Gaza remains impossible under daily bombardment, while the gradual evacuation of reporters continues.

RSF reiterates its call to the international community to step up pressure on Israel for an end to this massacre, and make efforts to protect Palestinian journalism.

When asked by RSF about what journalists in Gaza need the most, they said that "protection" is the most important thing that the profession needs today in the Strip, as they live in daily terror where the Strip has become completely besieged.

Despite repeated calls from various non-governmental organizations, including RSF, for the Rafah border crossing to be opened, entry into the Gaza Strip is still limited to journalists accompanying Israeli military forces, and they are restricted to covering Israeli permitted areas only. Meanwhile, only a small number of Palestinian journalists were evacuated from Gaza. (QNA)

Source: gulf-times.com

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Southeast Asia

 

Philippine troops kill 12 suspected Muslim rebels in clash that wounded 7 soldiers

April 22, 2024

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine troops killed the leader of a small Muslim rebel group and eleven of his men blamed for past bombings and extortion in a clash in the country’s south, military officials said Tuesday.

Seven soldiers were wounded in the hourlong gunbattle Monday against suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in a marshy hinterland in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao del Sur province, Brig. Gen. Jose Vladimir Cagara said.

Cagara said a key commander of the rebel group, MohidenAnimbang, who used the nom de guerre Karialan, was killed, along with his brother, Saga Animbang and 10 other suspected militants. About a dozen of their firearms were recovered from the battle scene.

“This group has long been notorious for bombings, attacking army and police outposts and extortion of bus companies. We finally caught up with them,” Lt. Col. Dennis Almorato, a regional army spokesperson, told The Associated Press by telephone.

Army officials have tried to convince Animbang’s group to surrender but it chose to continue fighting the government, Almorato said.

The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters is among a few armed groups still waging a separatist uprising in the southern Philippines, homeland of minority Muslims in the largely Catholic nation.

The largest armed separatist group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, signed a 2014 peace pact with the government that eased decades of sporadic fighting. A key commander, Ameril Umbra Kato, broke off from the rebel front when it pursued peace talks with the government and formed the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, some hardline members of which later aligned with the Islamic State group.

The military is separately fighting a decades-old communist insurgency, which has been weakened by battle setbacks, infighting and surrenders.

Source: thestar.com

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Malaysia, Indonesia should forge alliance to enhance Islamic finance, fintech growth in Asean, says Bank Negara

23 Apr 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Leading countries in the Islamic finance space within the Asean region, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, should collaborate in the banking and takaful sectors as the prospects of both Islamic finance and financial technology (fintech) in the region are seen to be brighter, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Adnan Zaylani.

While maintaining different jurisdictions and frameworks, he viewed that there is always scope for harmonisation and standardisation within the financial services sector to achieve greater fluidity.

“Financial services across countries, especially product acceptance across different countries, would be more fluid (through harmonisation and standardisation). To achieve this at the global level of acceptance could be challenging, but we could start in Asean first,” he said during the panel session titled “SEA’s Next Big Fintech Export: Islamic Finance” at the KL20 Summit 2024 here, today.

In this regard, Adnan noted that the Malaysian government would likely put forward ways to strengthen its financial offerings, including Islamic fintech as one of the agendas during the Asean chairmanship next year.

“Therefore, I think we can come together and strengthen Islamic finance in Asean as a whole in terms of its offering as there are already various working groups that are looking on the regulatory front,” he said.

Elaborating further, he said Malaysia has an overall framework in which existing banks could collaborate in Islamic fintech as the segment has a lot of opportunities to complement the financial sector.

In 2022, BNM awarded five successful applicants with digital bank licences as approved by the Finance Ministry, including two applicants for Islamic digital banks.

“The digital banks have to be all about digitalisation and we allow very minimal non-digital operations as the expectation was to be primarily digital. Hence, Islamic fintech has a lot to offer to complement the operations as well as the digital banks,” Adnan said.

Moreover, he also pointed out that the range of products for Islamic financial services today covers almost anything that could be covered by conventional services, not only in meeting the needs but also in making differences in terms of enhancing financial inclusion and products in the space of social finance, as well as the environmental, social, and governance. — Bernama

Source: malaymail.com

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South Asia

 

No significant changes in human rights situation in Bangladesh in 2023: US bureau

Apr 23, 2024

There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Bangladesh last year, according to the "2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Bangladesh".

The US State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour published the report early today. Secretary of State Antony Blinken launched it.

In December 2021, the US imposed sanctions on Rab and several of its senior officials for alleged human rights violations. In May last year, it announced a visa restriction policy for those undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.

At a briefing, Robert S Gilchrist, senior official in Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, said the US will continue to express concerns on the fundamental human rights issues in Bangladesh including the freedom of the press and freedom of association and urge the government to uphold those.

According to the report, significant human rights issues in Bangladesh included credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings; enforced disappearances; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions.

The issues also include arbitrary arrest or detention; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; political prisoners or detainees; transnational repression against individuals in another country; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; punishment of family members for alleged offences of a relative.

"There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings. Police policy required internal investigations of all significant uses of force by police, including actions that resulted in serious physical injury or death, usually by a professional standards unit," the report said.

The government, however, neither released official statistics on total killings by security personnel nor took transparent measures to investigate cases, it added.

The report said human rights groups expressed scepticism regarding the independence and professional standards of the units conducting these assessments. In the few known instances in which the government brought charges, those found guilty generally received administrative punishment.

It said extrajudicial killings decreased from the previous year. Domestic human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) reported eight individuals died from January to September in alleged extrajudicial killings or while in custody, including two in shootouts with law enforcement agencies and three due to physical torture before or while in custody.

According to another domestic human rights organisation, of 12 incidents of alleged extrajudicial killings between January and September, four deaths resulted from law enforcement crossfire, four persons were shot to death by law enforcement officers, and four others died from alleged torture while in custody.

The report added that there were reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities. Human rights groups and media reported that disappearances and kidnappings continued, allegedly committed by security services. Between January and September, a local human rights organisation reported 32 persons were victims of enforced disappearances.

The report also said there were serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship, and enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression.

It also reported that there were serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organisation, funding, or operation of nongovernmental and civil society organizations; restrictions on freedom of movement; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections.

It also said there were serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organisations.

"There were numerous reports of widespread impunity for human rights abuses. In most cases, the government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials or security force members who may have committed human rights abuses."

Source: thedailystar.net

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OIC Making Efforts to Increase Islamic Emirate's Interactions with World

April 22, 2024

Tariq Ali Bakheet, the deputy and special envoy of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Afghanistan, in a meeting with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, the political deputy of the PM, stated that the organization is working to facilitate assistance and interaction between the Islamic Emirate and the world.

Tariq Ali Bakheet was quoted in a statement by the Arg saying that Afghanistan's neighboring countries should directly express their concerns closely with the Islamic Emirate.

According to the statement, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir in the meeting stated that the Islamic Emirate is eager to develop cooperation, interaction, and stability in the region.

“He said that the efforts of the Islamic Emirate concerning the initiation of infrastructure projects and the strengthening of Afghanistan’s economy are notable, and emphasized that the neighboring countries of Afghanistan, which have some concerns, should discuss them closely with the Islamic Emirate,” the statement reads.

HamdullahFetrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, about this meeting added: “Tariq Ali Bakheet stated that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation does not have any hidden agenda for Afghanistan but is working to attract aid and facilitate interaction between the Islamic Emirate and the world.”

Mawlawi Abdul Kabir also added in the meeting that, according to the decree of the leader of the Islamic Emirate, Bad Dadan (“giving away a daughter,” which typically involves settling a dispute between families or tribes by marrying off a girl from one family to a man from the other), depriving women of inheritance, and their being forced into marriage, are prohibited in the country.

The deputy and special envoy of the OIC for Afghanistan also met with the head of UNAMA, Roza Otunbayeva, and discussed the plans and projects of OIC and UNAMA to support the people of Afghanistan in various fields.

Aziz Maarij, a political analyst, said: “They can be good lobbyists for securing Afghanistan's relations with the world and convince the world to help Afghanistan emerge from isolation.”

The Arg also mentioned that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation has created a fund to collect aid for the people of Afghanistan.

The delegation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, represented by Tariq Ali Bakheet, also met with the acting minister of public health, announcing the readiness and cooperation of this organization in the health sector with Afghanistan to support health shelters, nutrition, and other areas.

Source: tolonews.com

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Afghan migrants in Pakistan face multifaceted challenges amid forced deportation

Fidel Rahmati

April 22, 2024

Pakistan stands as a primary destination for migrants seeking to depart from Afghanistan. While many migrants temporarily reside in Pakistan, they pursue their migration cases in other countries, though there’s no guarantee they won’t be targeted during their stay. In the months following Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban regime, over 600,000 individuals legally or illegally crossed into Pakistan.

Over the past nearly three years, Afghan migrants have encountered nightly police raids, temporary housing issues, neglect of their migration cases, and the threat of forced deportation in Pakistan. Moreover, in many instances, they have become victims of armed attacks and abductions, as evidenced by the recent disappearance of three Afghan migrants who remain missing after three days.

Mir Ahmad Roofi, head of the Afghan Migrant Council in Islamabad, expressed concerns to the media, highlighting the arrival of three individuals on Thursday, with their families approaching the police and relevant authorities without receiving any positive or negative responses. Another individual, newly arrived in Pakistan, met a tragic fate, underscoring growing concerns.

While precise statistics on the targeting of Afghan migrants in Pakistan are unavailable, reports suggest that Afghan migrants face complex and multifaceted challenges, exposing them to serious harm and exploitation by various groups, in addition to the risk of forced deportation.

The head of the Afghan Migrant Council in Pakistan, while expressing concern about this situation to the media, has warned of what is referred to as the occurrence of “a humanitarian catastrophe.”

The findings of Khaama Press, obtained from examining reports in the media of Afghanistan and Pakistan, indicate that Afghan citizens have been targeted in various parts of Pakistan for multiple reasons. This targeting, predominantly by Pakistani police, emerges as the most prominent pattern in this trend, which has been repeated in several instances. Another pattern observed from the reports is abduction by armed thieves or encountering armed robbers, with the latest case being a kidnapping on Thursday. These two patterns indicate that a significant portion of migrants targeted in Pakistan over the past two years have fallen victim to extortion by government entities or armed groups.

A credible source, unwilling to be named in the report, informed Khaama Press that Pakistani police, when extorting migrants, falsely record deviations in the victims’ confessions to make it appear as if they were targeted by thieves, which is not the case. Additionally, another report on migrants, notable for its comprehensive nature and earning Afghanistan’s Journalist of the Year award, demonstrates that police harassment of Afghan migrants is the most common form of persecution they face in Pakistan.

Samiullah Azizi, head of the International Federation of Human Rights Defenders in Exile, informed the media that a significant portion of Afghan migrants in Pakistan comprises society’s elite and intellectuals who fled after the country’s collapse. He stated, “Here in Pakistan, most are human rights defenders, experts, university professors, judges, journalists, poets, and all individuals at risk.”

Source: khaama.com

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International Journalism Festival: Online violence against Journalists on the rise

Fidel Rahmati

April 22, 2024

 The International Journalism Festival, held annually in Italy, has reported an increase in online violence against journalists, stating that this situation has turned into a “major occupational hazard” worldwide.

In a statement released on Sunday, April 21st, by this international center, it has been mentioned that online violence has undermined freedom of expression and weakened equality and full participation in all fields.

According to this statement, online violence in the United States and worldwide has become a major occupational hazard that has severely affected everyone – from scientists and academics to journalists.

Juli Posseti, head of research at this international center, has stated that online violence, especially against female journalists in different countries, has had an impact. In some cases, this violence has not been limited to the online space.

“There is significant potential for online violence to escalate to offline harm,” said Julie Posetti, research director of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ).

It was previously stated in a statement before the start of this festival that a special panel was planned to investigate online violence against journalists and another panel to discuss the challenges faced by exiled journalists, with journalists from Afghanistan and Ukraine also invited to speak on the matter.

The issue of increased violence against female journalists in Afghanistan has been raised before. In one such case, the Afghan Women’s Organization, based in London, published its research findings on the increase in online violence against women’s rights activists in November of last year.

Furthermore, in another instance, a reporter for Khaama Press spoke with women who had experienced online violence in the past two years. This report indicates that the experience of online violence has, in many cases, forced women into silence.

Source: khaama.com

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Deportations Straining Islamabad-Kabul Relations: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Govt

April 22, 2024

Nazir Shinwari

The spokesperson for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Muhammad Ali Saif, stated that the deportation of legal Afghan migrants from Pakistan negatively impacts the relations between Islamabad and Kabul.

Muhammad Ali Saif, in an interview with Pakistani media, said that legal Afghan migrants in Pakistan should not be harassed, mistreated, or expelled.

The spokesperson for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Ali Saif, added: “Afghans with legal documentation in Pakistan should not be harassed, mistreated, or expelled from the country, as such actions damage the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.”

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said that the Pakistani government's decision to expel Afghan migrants from that country is unilateral and detrimental to both countries.

The spokesperson for this ministry emphasized that Kabul and Islamabad must resolve the issue of migrants through a mechanism.

"This unilateral decision is neither in the interest of Pakistan nor Afghanistan. Since the issue of migrants is bilateral, the governments of both countries should discuss it and establish a mechanism, allowing Afghans to voluntarily and gradually return from Pakistan with dignity and honor,” said Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, a spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.

Meanwhile, some Afghan migrants report that they are being mistreated in Pakistan and that the caretaker government should address this issue.

"Here, we are facing many problems, there are issues with visas, we cannot get out easily, and the police have created many difficulties,” said an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.

"People who even have visas are greatly harassed by the police, and those who do not have visas or are registered with an organization or other places also face a lot of harassment,” said an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation reports that about 700,000 Afghan migrants returned to the country on Sunday through the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings.

Previously, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said that there are no plans for migrants holding ACC cards.

Source: tolonews.com

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Muttaqi Meets Iran Envoy Qomi, Strengthening Ties Discussed

April 22, 2024

Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Acting Foreign Minister, emphasized strengthening relations between Kabul and Tehran in a meeting with the Iranian ambassador and special representative to Afghanistan, Hassan Kazemi Qomi.

The Foreign Ministry stated that during this meeting, both sides discussed regional developments, the expansion of relations, and other topics.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, mentioned that Hassan Kazemi Qomi, expressed satisfaction with the removal of obstacles in water delivery to Sistan and added that this action is significant in expanding bilateral relations between Kabul and Tehran.

“The meeting focused on regional progress, strengthening relations, and some bilateral issues,” Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal said.

Meanwhile, some political analysts consider the expansion of relations between Kabul and Tehran important and believe that the Islamic Emirate should strengthen its relationships with neighboring countries more than before.

Najib Rahman Shamal, a political analyst, told TOLOnews, “Having an Afghanistan with peace and security, and one that has a rule-of-law government aligned with the will of the Afghan people, can play a significant role in consolidating peace and stability in the region.”

Saleem Paigir, another political analyst, said: “In today's circumstances, Iran has no alternative but the Islamic Emirate, yet the people of Afghanistan expect to have very close interactions with major countries that can make significant investments in Afghanistan.”

According to the statement from the Foreign Ministry, Hassan Kazemi Qomi in this meeting appreciated the stance of the Islamic Emirate against the Israeli attack on Gaza.

Source: tolonews.com

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Pakistan

 

Washington warns Islamabad against 'potential risk of sanctions' amid Iran deals

April 23, 2024

As Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi continues his crucial three-day visit to Pakistan, Islamabad has received an understated warning from Washington over its growing closeness with Tehran, hinting a "potential risk of sanctions".

In light of the two nations signing various bilateral agreements, the US State Department spokesperson on Tuesday said: "We advise anyone considering business deals with Iran to be aware of the potential risk of sanctions."

The spokesperson, without mentioning Pakistan in the aforementioned statement warned against business deals with Tehran and later reminded Islamabad about its own trade and economic ties with Washington.

The US is Pakistan’s biggest export market and one of its largest investors, they said.

"We have also been a leading investor in Pakistan for the past 20 years. Pakistan’s economic success is in both of our interest, and we look forward to continuing our partnership," the spokesperson added, stressing the significance of economic relations between both countries.

However, considering Islamabad's closeness with Tehran amid President Raisi's three-day visit and the bilateral agreements signed between the two nations, the spokesperson hinted towards these relations being at risk with chances of potential sanctions owing to Iran's position in the world.

"We do not preview potential sanctions actions," the spokesperson said and referred journalists to the Government of Pakistan for any further comment on the matter.

The State Department's statement comes at a crucial standpoint in Pakistan's history as it works to advance its "brotherly ties" with Iran by welcoming their president, months after their cross-border skirmishes in January.

The statement also holds significance following Iran's standing at the global level, owing to its regional activities and recent clashes with Israel after it attacked its embassy in Damascus, killing two senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Meanwhile, both Tehran and Islamabad also signed a total of eight accords on varying subjects to enhance cooperation in the different fields including trade, science technology, agriculture, health, culture, and judicial matters with both PM Shehbaz and President Raisi witnessing the momentous occasion.

In his address during joint presser with the prime minister, the Iranian president revealed that both Pakistan and Iran have agreed to increase trade volume to $10 billion.

The signing ceremony also marked the ratification of a security cooperation agreement between the governments of both countries.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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13 ‘terrorists’ killed in KP, Balochistan in 48 hours

April 23, 2024

Umer Farooq | Saleem Shahid

PESHAWAR / QUETTA: Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have eliminated thirteen alleged terrorists in three operations in Khy­ber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, over the past 48 hours.

A statement issued by the military’s media wing said that 11 alleged terrorists were killed in two int­e­lligence-based operations (IBOs) in Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziris­tan on Monday and Tuesday.

Ten of them were gun­ned down in D.I. Khan, where seven Customs officers have been slain by unidentified attackers in the last six days.

The statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) read that security forces carried out the operation following intellige­nce reports about the presence of alleged terrorists.

ISPR says 11 dead in D.I. Khan, North Waziristan; two ‘militants’ killed in ongoing operation in Pishin highlands

“After an intense fire exchange, ten terrorists were successfully neutralised,” it added.

Separately, one alleged militant was gunned down in North Waziristan district, ISPR said, adding that arms and ammunition were also recovered from the alleged militants’ possession.

“The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area against security forces as well as the innocent civilians,” the statement read.

This is the second operation launched by security in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, in less than a week.

On April 17, the military claimed to have thwarted an infiltration attempt from Afghanistan by killing seven militants who were trying to cross into Pakistan.

Two ‘terrorists’ killed in Pishin

In Balochistan’s Pishin district, two alleged terrorists were killed and several injured in a gun battle with the security forces on Monday.

According to officials, the local administration received information about the presence of terrorists in the Sanzalai mountain range of Pishin, following which an operation was planned.

As security forces, including personnel of Frontier Corps, Levies and Police, closed in on the terrorists’ hideout, they opened fire.

Following a heavy exchange of fire, which lasted for an hour, two terrorists were killed, according to Pishin Deputy Commissioner Jumma Dad Mandokhail.

He also said that some terrorists were reportedly injured in the gun battle.

According to DC Mandokhail, the deceased terrorists were involved in the March 27 attack on security forces, in which a Levies risaldar had embraced martyrdom.

The encounter between security forces and suspects in the Killi Manzari area of Pishin also left four Levies officials injured. Following the gun battle, the terrorists had escaped into the Sanzalai mountain range.

DC Mandokhail added that the operation was ongoing against the alleged terrorists in the area and will continue until they are “completely eliminated”.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Frontier Corps (North) have claimed that the terrorists had crossed into Pishin from Afghanistan and had established their pickets on top of the hills.

Locals have also been informed about the terrorists’ presence in the mountains and cautioned against going into the area due to the ongoing operation.

Locals should not extend any help to these terrorists, FC officials warned.

Source: dawn.com

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Why wasn’t cipher shown to trial court, IHC judge asks FIA

April 23, 2024

Malik Asad

ISLAMABAD: The Isla­mabad High Court (IHC) asked the special prosecutor of the Federal Investi­ga­tion Agency (FIA) on Monday why a copy of the cipher or its content had not been shared with the trial court judge, when the entire proceedings in the cipher case revolved aro­u­nd that single document.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb made this observation while hearing the appeals of ex-premier Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi against their conviction in the cipher case.

A special court, established under the Official Secrets Act, handed both Mr Khan and Mr Qureshi 10-year jail sentences each in the case after Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain appo­inted a state counsel for them.

The cipher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the FIA’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by then-PM Imran Khan, who long held that the document contained a threat from the US to topple his government.

As member of the division bench that also comprised IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Aurangzeb noted that the cipher could be produced before the judge in a confidential manner.

The bench was of the opinion that since the proceeding in this matter is criminal in nature, the benefit of doubt will go in fav­our of the accused persons.

Earlier, FIA’s special prosecutor Hamid Ali Shah informed the bench that the missing cipher was a ‘Grade-II’ classified document and disclosure of its contents compromised its security protocol.

“Every coded communication is considered a secret document,” he reasoned.

During the course of arguments, the FIA counsel defined the cipher and its security protocol. He also submitted a booklet about the security protocol for cipher and apprised the court that the booklet was issued for ‘official use only’.

Earlier on Jan 18, only weeks before the Feb 8 general elections, former principal secretary Azam Khan testified before the special court that the cipher never returned to his office.

The former bureaucurat claimed he had intimated the then prime minister, his military secretary as well as the relevant staff numerous times.

Four days later, former foreign secretary Sohail Mehmood appeared before the trial court, claiming that the copy sent to ex-PM Khan was never returned while Mr Qureshi said he returned the copy to the ministry and the ex-secretary replied in the affirmative.

On the other hand, Mr Khan had claimed that the cipher was still with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and he had received only a rephrased version of the diplomatic cable.

However, the FIA special prosecutor told the IHC bench on Monday that the original copy of cipher remained in the custody of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the transcript was sent to the designated offices, adding that those copies were destroyed upon return.

The court adjourned further hearing till Tuesday (today).

Source: dawn.com

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Bajwa says on oath he had no role in no-trust against Imran: Shami

April 23, 2024

LAHORE: Former army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa (retd) has stated on oath he did not have any role in the no-trust vote against Imran Khan’s government.

Senior journalist Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami revealed this in a TV interview. He said he interacted Bajwa at a wedding, adding the ex-COAS had a pocketsize copy of the Holy Quran.

Shami quoted Bajwa as claiming on oath that he did not seek second extension in service from the government directly or indirectly. Shami said Bajwa repeatedly held Quran in his hand, and said he had nothing to do with PMLN Quaid Nawaz Sharif’s travel to UK on medical grounds, implying that it was purely Imran Khan government’s decision.

Shami said that Bajwa admitted the army extended full support to Imran’s government. The senior journalist explained that inaction on part bureaucracy necessitated support from the military. Shami said the interaction with Bajwa continued for some 25 minutes, and the latter spoke a lot about various issues off the record.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Security issue: Iranian president’s several activities in Lahore curtailed

April 23, 2024

Asif Mehmood Butt

LAHORE: One of the main reasons why Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Lahore was cut short was the issue of security clearance, sources said.

Reliable sources told Daily Jang on Monday that some of the activities of the Iranian president in Lahore, including meetings with cultural and journalistic personalities, and discussions regarding the strengthening and improvement of bilateral relations, including cultural ties, were also included by the government. However, they had to be abandoned after not getting security clearance, though law and order in the city and the country is satisfactory.

Security sources of Punjab said there was also a discussion in a meeting of the Provincial Intelligence Committee, in which security clearance was obtained for some programmes of the Iranian president in Lahore in the light of the instructions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, some events had to be cancelled.

The sources said the Iranian president’s visit to Lahore included visits to some religious schools and meetings with scholars and teachers, but clearance was not given due to some unavoidable reasons.

According to diplomatic sources, the Iranian president’s visit to Lahore was of great importance, in which, apart from cultural activities, a large number of people were to be invited to functions at historical places, which could convey the message that Pakistanis had greatly appreciated the visit.

Sources said a luncheon has been organised for him at the Governor’s House in Lahore. The VVIP hall of the Governor’s House, where this lunch will be held, has a capacity of 150 people, while the number of people accompanying him is 78.

The sources said that the Iranian authorities have been told that businessmen from Iran should not be brought to the luncheon due to the lack of space in the hall. They said the Iranian guests seemed somewhat surprised at the changes in the programmes by the Pakistani authorities. According to security sources, immediately after the arrival of the Iranian president, meetings will be held with literary figures and scholars at the famous Bukhari Hall of the Government College University at 9am. Later, he will visit the Badshahi Masjid, Shahi Qila and Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum and leave for Karachi after attending the lunch.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Seven-day ban imposed on drone cameras in Karachi ahead of Iranian President Raisi's visit

April 22, 2024

Flying all kinds of drone cameras in Karachi has been banned under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for seven days ahead of the visit of an Iranian delegation led by President Ebrahim Raisi.

The ban has been imposed at the request of the police and will remain in effect till April 28, as per an official statement.

Commissioner Karachi Division, Syed Hassan Naqvi, notified the ban citing a letter from the additional inspector general of Police (AIGP) who has informed officials that “there are serious threats to vital installations by the Anti-State Elements/Hostile agencies in the wake of recent attacks on foreigners.”

At least three terrorists on Saturday targeted foreign nationals in Karachi’s Landhi area. The act of terror left two attackers and a private security guard dead.

In the wake of an attack on Chinese nationals in Pakistan, the Karachi commissioner on March 31 imposed a ban on the use of drone cameras for two months in District South of the port city citing “threats to vital installations, and Chinese Consulate”.

It must be noted that the Sindh government has also declared a public holiday on April 24 (Tuesday) in the Karachi division to “avoid inconvenience to the general public” as foreign dignitaries, including the Iranian president, are visiting Pakistan.

The Foreign Office said that the Iranian president would undertake an official visit to Pakistan from April 22 (Monday) to April 24 (Wednesday).

“The Iranian president will be accompanied by his spouse and a high-level delegation comprising the foreign minister and other members of the cabinet, senior officials as well as a large business delegation,” the FO said.

“He will also visit Lahore and Karachi and meet with the provincial leadership,” the FO statement added.

Source: thenews.com.pk

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Filling of acquittal pleas: ATC directs Imran’s lawyer, other accused to fulfill legal formalities

 2024-04-23

ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), on Monday, directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding chairman Imran Khan’s lawyer and other accused in cases registered in connection with protests and vandalism to fulfill legal formalities before filling acquittal applications.

ATC judge, Tahir Abbas Sipra, while hearing the cases registered against Khan, Aamir Mughal, and PTI’s former leader Ali Nawaz Awan, directed the defence lawyers to fulfill legal formalities before filing acquittal applications and adjourned it till May 17.

The cases against PTI leaders were registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Ramna, Golra, and Sangjani police stations.

Aamir Mughal and Awan appeared before the court along with their counsel Sardar Masroof.

The defence counsel told the court that former minister Asad Umar had been acquitted from the case registered at Sangjani police station; therefore, we are filing an acquittal application for the other accused.

The judge remarked that this was not the case; therefore, he could not decide it.

The court directed the defence lawyers to fulfill legal formalities before filing acquittal applications.

The judge further said the application under Section 265 could not be filed until a charge against the accused was not framed.

The defence counsel further told the court that as many as 40 accused had been acquitted from the case registered at Ramna police station.

The court adjourned the hearing of the case till May 17.

Source: brecorder.com

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Pakistan-Iran border symbolizes peace & friendship: COAS

April 23, 2024

Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir met Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi.

The discussion primarily focused on matters of mutual interest, notably regional peace, stability, and border security.

Both sides concurred on the necessity to bolster bilateral cooperation while jointly striving for regional stability and economic prosperity.

The Army Chief described the Pakistan-Iran border as "the border of peace and friendship."

He emphasized the need for improved coordination along the border to prevent terrorists from jeopardizing the longstanding brotherly relations between the two neighboring countries.

President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized that by fostering cooperation between the two Armed Forces, Pakistan and Iran can attain peace and stability for both nations and the region.

Source: radio.gov.pk

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Africa

 

Mali: More Than 110 Civilians Kidnapped By "Suspected Jihadists"

23 April 2024

Local groups and an official in Mali are calling for the release of more than 110 people kidnapped by suspected jihadists some 6 days ago.

They told the AFP news agency that three buses carrying the civilians were stopped by the group of men in the centre of the country and forced to head towards a forest between Bandiagara and Bankass.

An elected official from Bandiagara, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, says the buses and passengers are still being held captive.

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by fighting between different factions affiliated to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, as well as by self-declared, self-defence forces and bandits.

The worsening security situation has been compounded by a humanitarian and political crisis.

The violence spilled over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger, with all three countries seeing military regimes seize power in recent years.

Source: africanews.com

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NigeriaResumes Prosecution of All Boko Haram Detainees

Jerry Wright-Ukwu

April 22, 2024

Nigeria has resumed the prosecution of all Boko Haram detainees in Kainji.

This announcement was made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, during the ongoing 2-day High-level African Counter-terrorism Summit in Abuja.

According to Ribadu, Nigeria is not only prosecuting Boko Haram detainees but also actively gathering intelligence on the activities of Boko Haram and the Islamic State–West Africa Province (ISWAP).

He noted that this comprehensive approach aims to tackle the terrorist groups head-on and address the evolving security threats they pose.

Ribadu emphasized that the summit underscores Nigeria’s strategic commitment to the UN Counter-terrorism agreement.

He highlighted the diverse terrorist groups threatening Africa and stressed the importance of exploiting digital assets in countering terrorism.

On his part, Vladimir Voronkov, the Under Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism at the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism, echoed the significance of collaboration among African countries in combating terrorism.

He emphasized that the success of the United Nations in addressing terrorism relies on African-based solutions.

The 2-day high-level summit convened leaders from across Africa, including President Bola Tinubu, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, and President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo.

Representatives from Chad and Niger also attended the summit, alongside over four hundred delegates from various African countries.

Organisers say the summit aims to generate solutions to the multifaceted security threats facing Nigeria and Africa.

Source: politicsnigeria.com

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More than 50,000 displaced by clashes in northern Ethiopia: UN

APRIL 23, 2024

Over 50,000 people have been displaced by clashes in a disputed area in northern Ethiopia, the UN said, as the international community expressed concern about the violence involving fighters from rival regions.

"The humanitarian situation is dire, with thousands of women and children in need of broad humanitarian support to survive," the UN said late Monday, citing local authorities in the disputed area, which is claimed by Tigray and neighbouring Amhara.

The United Nations noted the number of people displaced by the armed clashes in Alamata Town and Raya Alamata, Zata and Ofla since the weekend has passed 50,000.

Amhara forces occupied Raya Alamata in southern Tigray during a two-year war between Ethiopia's government and regional Tigrayan authorities.

Under a peace deal between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and Tigrayan authorities, Amhara forces -- which backed federal troops during the conflict -- were due to withdraw from Raya Alamata after the agreement was signed in Pretoria in November 2022.

Neither the federal government nor Tigrayan authorities responded to AFP requests for information and the identity of the fighters involved remains unclear. It is impossible to verify the situation on the ground independently as media access to northern Ethiopia is heavily restricted.

Reports of the fighting have sparked alarm among the international community, with the embassies of several nations including the United States, Japan, Britain and France on Saturday calling for dialogue and urging the "de-escalation and protection of civilians".

The Amhara regional administration last week accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front party, which controls Tigray, of "invading" Raya Alamata and other areas "which have identity questions".

"The Amhara region administration asks TPLF and its supporters to... fully adhere to the Pretoria agreement and hence to swiftly vacate from the areas it currently controls," it said in a statement issued last Wednesday.

"If this doesn't happen the Amhara region administration will be forced... to protect our people from attack and save the country from destruction."

Getachew Reda, a senior TPLF member who heads the Tigray regional administration, said on X last week that the recent developments were "the work of diehard enemies of the Pretoria agreement trying to take advantage of real or perceived differences to derail" the peace deal.

- 'Little room for manoeuvre' -

During the war, Amhara forces occupied and still retain control of western Tigray, a disputed region that is claimed by both regions.

The 2022 peace deal signed in Pretoria does not mention the region, but Abiy said at the time that the issue could be resolved through constitutional means, including a possible referendum.

"At this point, the Tigrayan side has little room for manoeuvre," said Benedikt Kamski, an Addis Ababa-based expert on Ethiopian politics, from the Arnold Bergstraesser Institute in Freiburg, Germany.

"The federal government seems unwilling to fully implement the Pretoria agreement in a timely manner... (and is) hesitant or rather totally opposed to return all disputed territories under Amhara administration," he told AFP.

Amhara, Ethiopia's second most populous region, has been wracked by clashes since April 2023, when the federal government's decision to dismantle regional forces across the country triggered clashes.

Amhara nationalists, who already felt betrayed by the Tigray peace deal, said the move would weaken their region.

Last August, as fighting raged between an Amhara militia and federal troops, Abiy's government imposed a state of emergency in the region, that remains in force.

A mosaic of more than 80 ethno-linguistic communities, Ethiopia has endured multiple conflicts over identity and territorial claims in recent years.

Source: gulf-times.com

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South Africa: Activists clean up Cape Town beach in celebration of Earth Day

23 April 2024

A group of environmental activists gathered at the Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town on Monday to do a beach cleanup in celebration of Earth Day.

Earth Day is a globally celebrated annual event which mobilises people to reduce plastic consumption and pollution around the world.

The activists started at the Muizenberg beachfront and cleaned along the shore and then moved to cleaning between the rocks.

Lyniel Traut, an organiser and volunteer said she would like to see South Africa reduce the production of plastics by 2040 by 60%.

"Well, they need to reduce the production of plastics, that’s number one, that’s where it starts. A lot of corporates need to get involved and also do their part and also educate people about the use of single-use plastics and what other options there are as well." says Traut.

Fellow activist, Vigilante Manangazira, said Earth Day was important because she wanted her children and grandchildren to grow up in a safe environment, "where it’s plastic free and pollution free."

The activists have pledged to keep appealing to their government and to regularly arrange beach cleanups.

Source: africanews.com

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Heavy rains and floods paralyze Nairobi, death toll rises in Kenya

22 April 2024

Vehicles were stranded on Sunday in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, as the devastating toll of heavy rains and floods in Kenya continues to mount.

Since mid-March, 35 people have died in floods that have affected over 100,000 individuals, according to the UN, citing figures from the Red Cross in its latest update.

Floods have been reported in residential areas of Nairobi as rivers overflowed on Sunday evening.

Motorists could be seen driving and wading through the waters that filled the city.

The Kenyan government agency responsible for roads warned Nairobi residents to avoid flooded highways, including the one leading to the coastal city of Mombasa.

Those living along the Nairobi River are urged to relocate to higher ground.

At least 40,265 people are displaced in 21 out of the country's 47 counties.

Floods and mudslides have also been reported in western Kenya.

In the northern region, a passenger bus was swept away by floodwaters on a bridge earlier in April, with 51 passengers rescued.

The Kenya Meteorological Service forecasts that rainfall will peak this week.

Source: africanews.com

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Arab World

 

OIC calls for probe into ‘war crime’ over mass graves in Gaza's Khan Yunis

 22 April 2024

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for a probe into the Israeli war crimes in Gaza's Nasser hospital where hundreds of civilian bodies have been recovered from mass graves.

In a statement released on Monday, the 57-member bloc condemned the execution and mass burial of hundreds of Gazans in the courtyard of Nasser Medical Complex as “war crime, crime against humanity and organized state terrorism."

It noted those executed were medical teams, patients and refugees taking shelter in Nasser Hospital.

The organization further said that “hundreds of displaced, wounded, sick people and medical teams have been subjected to torture and abuse before being executed and buried collectively”.

 The OIC has urged the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to assume their responsibility in this regard.

Civil service workers in Gaza have recovered the bodies of 283 Palestinians in several mass graves in Nasser Hospital yard, most of them women, children and the elderly. Some of those executed were blindfolded and handcuffed.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned what it said was a "mass grave of those executed in cold blood and buried with military bulldozers in the hospital's courtyard."

Hospitals in Gaza have not been spared in the Israeli war.

The World Health Organization said on April 6 that the Palestinian territory's largest hospital, al-Shifa, had been reduced to ashes by an Israeli siege last month, leaving an "empty shell" containing many bodies.

WHO staff who gained access to the devastated facility described horrifying scenes of bodies only partly buried, their limbs sticking out, and the stench of decomposition.

Palestinians continue to endure a US-Israeli genocidal war in the besieged Gaza strip, the scene of death and destruction on a daily basis.

At least 34,097 Palestinians have been killed; most of them women and children, and another 76,980 individuals have sustained injuries. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well.

The Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip recently said hundreds of Palestinians were reported missing in various districts of the war-ravaged coastal territory following withdrawal of Israeli military forces from those regions.

Source: presstv.ir

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Saudi foreign minister discusses Gaza with European counterparts at EU-GCC event in Luxembourg

April 22, 2024

LUXEMBOURG: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Italy’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Monday on the sidelines of the EU-GCC High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Luxembourg.

The two ministers discussed aspects of developing joint cooperation in various fields, as well as ways to intensify bilateral and multilateral coordination on issues of interest, a Saudi foreign ministry statement said.

They also discussed developments in the Middle East region, particularly the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Prince Faisal met with Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg to review relations between Saudi Arabia and Austria and ways to enhance them to serve the interests of the two countries.

They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues and the efforts being made in this regard.

He also held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of the Netherlands, Hanke Bruins Slot, Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Denmark, and Radoslaw Sikorski from Poland.

The meetings were also attended by Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Jindan, the head of Saudi Arabia’s mission to the EU, Ambassador Haifa Al-Jedea, and MOFA advisor Manal Radwan.

Source: arabnews.com

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Saudi, Malaysian officials discuss boosting halal industry

April 22, 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Food and Drug Authority CEO Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey met Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs Mohamad Naim bin Mokhtar in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to discuss supporting and expanding the halal industry in Malaysia.

Malaysian Department of Islamic Development Director General Hakimah Yusuf also attended the meeting.

The two sides discussed unifying halal standards and boosting coordination in legislative and technical research, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They also stressed the need to have a global regulatory and legislative framework for the halal industry, joint work to develop global oversight in this field, mechanisms to ensure the authenticity of halal products for Muslims around the world, and mutual acceptance of products manufactured in the two countries.

The Kingdom had signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia on mutual recognition of halal certificates issued by both countries.

The memorandum covers cooperation in recognizing halal certificates issued by the Saudi Halal Center, which is affiliated with the SFDA and JAKIM in Malaysia, and in conformity-assessment procedures, standards, technical regulations and standards for issuing halal certificates, as well as the exchange of expertise and knowledge in training, research and laboratory analysis.

Source: arabnews.com

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5-year multiple entry visa for Saudis and Gulf citizens as EU updates Schengen rule

April 22, 2024

RIYADH — The European Union announced on Monday its decision to grant a five-year valid multiple-entry visa to citizens of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.

This was announced by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell at the opening session of the first high-level EU-GCC Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Luxembourg. “I welcome a decision adopted by the European Commission this morning to harmonize the rules for granting multiple-entry visas for the citizens of the GCC countries,” he said.

The landmark decision allows Saudi citizens to visit the EU multiple times over a period of five years with the same visa. During the visa validity period, holders of the visa enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals. As per the updated visa code, visa regulations are standardized for all GCC countries whose citizens require visas to access the Schengen Area.

In a statement on his X social media account, French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille, said: “Saudi citizens will now be able to obtain Schengen visas for a period of five years upon their first request,” he said while emphasizing that the European decision was strongly supported by Paris. “We look forward to seeing more Saudis in France, whether for tourism or work,” he added.

The implementation of the five-year visa rule marks a significant step forward in strengthening people-to-people relations between the EU and the GCC. The announcement at the EU-GCC Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation will be a big boost to the enhanced ties and bilateral cooperation between the two sides. Saudi Arabia is represented by a high level delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, at the forum.

In his speech at the opening session of the forum, GCC Secretary General Jasim Albudaiwi said that holding the forum confirms the utmost keenness in further enhancing relations with the European Union. “We are facing a dangerous turning point and disastrous consequences if we are not able to deal with the negative developments in the region,” he said.

Albudaiwi renewed the GCC’s condemnation of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, and its demand for an immediate ceasefire.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

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Europe

 

Macron warns Netanyahu against invading Rafah

Seyma Uzundere

23.04.2024

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that any military offensive in the southern Gaza city Rafah would exacerbate an already worsening situation.

During their conversation, Macron expressed solidarity with Tel Aviv following Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel on April 13, according to a statement by the Elysee Palace.

Defining the retaliatory attack as unacceptable, the French president said all parties should take measures to avoid tensions in the region.

Mentioning the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Macron noted that he opposed Israel's planned military offensive in Rafah, as it would exacerbate the already catastrophic situation in Gaza and escalate tensions.

Israel has waged a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which Tel Aviv says killed nearly 1,200 people.

At least 34,151 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 77,000 others injured amid mass destruction and severe shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

Source: aa.com.tr

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US facing humiliation in Ukraine akin to Vietnam and Afghanistan, says Russia

Fidel Rahmati

April 22, 2024

Russia has cautioned that the recent US aid to Ukraine is exacerbating tensions, drawing parallels to historical failures in conflicts like Vietnam and Afghanistan.

Following the US House of Representatives’ passage of a $95 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused the United States of pushing Ukraine into conflict, potentially endangering Russian territory and civilians.

“Washington’s deeper and deeper immersion in the hybrid war against Russia will turn into a loud and humiliating fiasco for the United States, such as Vietnam and Afghanistan,” Zakharova stated. Russia, she said, will respond firmly to the US’s increased involvement in the Ukraine conflict.

The United States faced significant losses in both the Vietnam War, where over 58,000 military personnel were killed, and the war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, resulting in 2,459 fatalities. The Soviet Union also suffered losses in the 1979-1989 Afghan conflict, with 14,453 personnel killed.

Russia will end up in a fiasco for the United States as scandalous and humiliating as in Vietnam and Afghanistan

In response to the US Congress voting to allocate funds to Ukraine and other US clients: “We have no interest whatsoever in the noise coming from the House of Representatives over approving aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, which goes hand in hand with the tug-of-war between the White House and the Republicans who, with the upcoming presidential campaign in mind, were also pushing for funding the efforts to put an end to illegal border crossings from Mexico,” she said.

She further said, “One thing is clear: regardless of their party affiliation, the US ruling elites are willing to flood the Kyiv regime with weapons for it to continue to fight to the last Ukrainian and to continue, among other things, to carry out terrorist attacks targeting civilian sites in Russia, to perpetrate acts of sabotage, and to kill journalists. For this purpose, Washington is resorting to the trivial theft of frozen Russian assets, for which Congress has given the green light to the Biden administration.”

Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns cautioned last week that without increased US military assistance, Ukraine faced the risk of losing on the battlefield. However, he also expressed confidence that with support, Ukrainian forces could maintain their defense throughout the year. Despite these warnings, the United States has consistently ruled out deploying its troops or those of other NATO members to Ukraine, which is engaged in a relentless conflict with Russia along a heavily fortified 1,000-km front.

Russia’s territorial control over Ukraine has steadily expanded to approximately 18% following the failure of Kyiv’s 2023 counter-offensive. Despite Ukraine’s persistent appeals for more financial and military aid from the United States, Russian officials maintain that such assistance will not alter the ultimate outcome of the conflict. The ongoing warfare, characterized by relentless artillery bombardments and drone attacks, has entrenched Russian troops behind minefields and heavy artillery, thwarting Ukrainian advances.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova criticized the United States for its role in the conflict, alleging that ordinary Ukrainians are being sacrificed as “cannon fodder” while Washington no longer expects a Ukrainian victory against Russia. She accused the US of prolonging the conflict until the upcoming presidential election in November. Additionally, Zakharova condemned the US legislative package, which includes provisions allowing the seizure of billions of dollars’ worth of Russian assets. She denounced these measures as “theft,” arguing that the true beneficiaries were US defense companies.

However, she said that “considering this, we confirm that Washington’s actions as an active party to the conflict will be rebuffed unconditionally and decisively, and its increasingly deeper plunge into the hybrid war against Russia will end up in a fiasco for the United States as scandalous and humiliating as in Vietnam and Afghanistan.”

Source: khaama.com

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EU ministers agree on new Iran sanctions after attacks on Israel

 22 April 2024

European Union (EU) foreign ministers have agreed to impose new sanctions on Iran that would cover the alleged supply of missiles to other countries and entities following an Iranian military operation against the Israeli regime earlier this month in retaliation for the killing of senior Iranian generals in Syria.

The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that members of the bloc had agreed in principle during a meeting in Luxembourg to expand the EU’s current drone-related sanctions on Iran to cover missiles and their transfers out of the country.

“We have reached a political agreement in order to enlarge and expand the existing drone (sanctions) regime in order to cover missiles and their potential ... transfer to Russia,” Borrell said, adding that the bans would also be expanded beyond Russia to cover alleged supply of missiles to regional groups deemed to be allied to Iran.

He said, however, that the EU must do more work to develop a legal framework to prepare the ground for the implementation of the new sanctions on Iran.

Iran has denied it has supplied drones or missiles to regional groups while reiterating on numerous occasions that drones supplied to Russia that have reportedly been used in its war against Ukraine were delivered to Moscow long before the Ukraine war started in February 2022.

Tehran has also lashed out at the EU for preparing new sanctions because of an Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel in mid-April that was meant to respond to Israel’s bombardment of the Iranian consulate in Syria’s Damascus on April 1.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani had warned earlier on Monday that any move to impose new sanctions on Iran following legitimate attacks on Israel would be viewed as a reward for the occupying Zionist regime.

Kanaani said in a weekly press briefing that new EU sanctions on Iran will go down in history as a “shameful move”.

Source: presstv.ir

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German warship departs Red Sea as EU 'naval mission' fails to confront Yemen

 22 April 2024

Germany has withdrawn a warship that was deployed to the Red Sea as part of an EU military mission amid the failure of the alliance to confront Yemen’s maritime campaign in support of the Gaza Strip.

The German military said that the Hessen frigate, with a crew of 240 on board, had left the Red Sea on Saturday morning.

The frigate had been deployed in the strategic waterway in February as part of the EU naval operation called Aspides (“shield” in ancient Greek) in the face of pro-Palestine operations by the Yemeni armed forces.

Germany is expected to send the Hamburg frigate to the Red Sea in August, but military analysts say the genocidal Israeli war on Gaza may not continue until then.

'Step in right direction'

Yemen’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hussein al-Ezzi hailed the departure of the German frigate from the Red Sea as a “step in the right direction.”

He also expressed Yemen’s readiness to maintain the safety of navigation in the Red Sea, the narrow but pivotal body of water that connects Europe to Asia.

On Thursday, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah resistance movement, called on European countries to withdraw their warships from the Red Sea.

He also emphasized that the European vessels, which are not going to the occupied territories, are not at risk.

Israel waged its bloody war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 following a historic operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the usurping regime.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships going to and from ports in the occupied lands, or whose owners are linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea.

Source: presstv.ir

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French court gives man suspended sentence for Iran consulate intrusion

April 23, 2024

PARIS: A French court this week handed an Iran-born man a suspended 10-month sentence for entering the Iranian consulate in Paris with fake grenades in what he said was “revenge” for a crackdown at home that targeted his family.

The 61-year-old, a long-time resident of France who regularly attends Iranian opposition demonstrations, told the court he acted on Friday after learning the previous day that his sister had been arrested.

He said he had not wanted to “threaten anyone” but rather “take revenge” on the Iranian authorities, who he described as “terrorist.”

The court, in a ruling late on Monday, also banned him from carrying a weapon or approaching the consulate again.

Soldiers and police descended en masse on the neighborhood around the consulate on Friday after the mission reported an intruder entering with a grenade or explosive belt.

But police found no explosives on him or inside after arresting him.

A police source, who did not wish to be named, said the suspect had been wearing a vest with large pockets containing three fake grenades.

The judge said witnesses recounted the man “tearing down flags” and saying he “wanted to die.” Police negotiators managed to convince him to exit the building without his jacket.

A psychiatric expert found the man was of sound mind.

During his trial, the accused embarked on long tirades about the political situation in Iran, prompting the judge to remind him to “stick to the facts.”

The man had already been convicted for setting fire to tires in front of the entrance of the Iranian embassy in Paris in 2023, prosecutors said.

Citizens in the Islamic republic have endured increased repression since nationwide protests began in September 2022.

The demonstrations were sparked by the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly flouting the mandatory dress rules for women.

Executions — which activists say are a way to instil fear into Iranian society — have also continued apace.

At least 110 people have been executed this year alone, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group.

Source: arabnews.com

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New footage adds context to police response to Jewish man during pro-Palestine protest in London

April 22, 2024

LONDON: A former senior police officer said on Monday that initial reports of an incident involving a Metropolitan Police officer and a Jewish man during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, which prompted significant criticism of Scotland Yard, “did not fully represent the situation.”

Footage shared by the Campaign Against Antisemitism on Friday showed a police officer warning the organization’s CEO, Gideon Falter, during a pro-Palestinian demonstration this month that his “openly Jewish” appearance might provoke protesters.

The initial version of the video gave the impression that Falter was being prevented from going about his business in the vicinity of a pro-Palestinian rally simply because he was Jewish. However, a longer version of the video, broadcast subsequently by Sky News, showed the officer expressing concern about Falter’s actions because they seemed to be deliberately attempting to provoke the demonstrators.

Dal Babu, a former chief superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, said on Monday the extended footage revealed “a completely different encounter than what Mr. Falter reported.”

He told BBC Breakfast it showed Falter “attempting to go against the march, trying to push past the officers, and I think for 13 minutes the officers showed great restraint.”

Babu added: “They offered to take him to a crossing point, they offered to help him, and the group he was with the opportunity to cross at a more appropriate place. So the narrative that’s been pushed for the past few days is not accurate.

“Personally, if I was policing that march, I would have been inclined to have arrested (Falter) for assault on a police officer and breach of the peace.”

The short version of the video released by the CAA shows Falter standing beside the protest march in central London, wearing a kippah, the Jewish head covering, and attempting to cross the road through the path of the protesters. A police officer offers to escort him elsewhere and tells him that if he chooses to remain where he is, he could be arrested for breach of peace because his presence could be considered antagonizing in the context of the march.

The extended footage provides further context, including the fact that Falter had deliberately walked into the middle of the march, as a result of which the officer talking to him was concerned that he was attempting to incite a reaction.

The Metropolitan Police commissioner was due to meet with leaders of Jewish groups on Monday to discuss the incident. The CAA previously has faced criticism for allegedly attempting to equate support for Palestinians or anti-Zionist views with antisemitism.

Source: arabnews.com

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